Singh ( IPA: /ˈsɪŋ/ SING) is a title, middle name, or surname that means " lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, [1] it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Singh (born Gobind Das) for all male Sikhs as well, in part as a rejection of caste-based prejudice [2] and to emulate Rajput naming conventions. [3] [4] [5] [6] As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the world across communities and religious groups, becoming more of a generic, caste-neutral, decorative name. [7] [8] [9]
The word "Singh" is derived from the Sanskrit word सिंह ( IAST: siṃha) meaning "lion", and is used in the sense "hero" or "eminent person". [10]
Several variants of the word are found in other languages:
Originally, the Sanskrit word for lion, variously transliterated as Simha or Singh was used as a title by Kshatriya warriors in northern parts of India. The earliest recorded examples of the names ending with "Simha" are the names of the two sons of the Western Satraps ruler Rudraraman in the second century CE. Jayasimha, the first ruler of the Chalukya dynasty to bear the title Simha, ruled around 500 CE. The Vengi branch of the Chalukyas continued using Simha as the last name till the eleventh century. The Rajputs started using Singh in preference to the classical epithet of " Varman". Among the Rajputs, the use of the word Simha came into vogue among the Paramaras of Malwa in 10th century CE, among the Guhilots and the Kachwahas of Narwar in the 12th century CE, and the Rathores of Marwar after the 17th century, [13] along with Lodhi Rajputs of Bundelkhand. [14]
By the sixteenth century, "Singh" had become a popular surname among Rajputs. [15] It was adopted by the Sikhs in 1699, as per the instructions of Guru Gobind Singh. Singh is used by all baptized male Sikhs, regardless of their geographical or cultural binding; the women use Kaur. [16] [17]
In the 18th century, several groups started using the title "Singh". These included the Brahmins, the Kayasthas and the Baniyas of what are now Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the 19th century, even the Bengal court peons of the lower castes adopted the title "Singh". [13] Bhumihars, who originally used Brahmin surnames, also started affixing Singh to their names. [18] In Bihar and Jharkhand, the surname came to be associated with power and authority, and was adopted by people of multiple castes, including Brahmin zamindars. [19] Citing Kshatriya status, Ahirs, ( Yadavs), Kumawat, [20] Kushwaha (Koeri) and Kurmis also use 'Singh' as part of their names. [21]
Many Muslim Shins traditionally used the surname "Sing". [22] Some Jains had also adopted the surname in addition to various Hindu castes. [23]
People belonging to several other castes and communities have also used Singh as a title, middle name or a surname; these include non-Sikh Punjabis, Gurjar (e.g. Nain Singh Nagar), Brahmins (e.g. Lakshmeshwar Singh), Lodhi Rajputs (e.g. Kalyan Singh), Marathas (e.g. Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad) and Hindu Jats, (e.g. Bhim Singh Rana), Sikh Jats,(e.g. Maharaja Ranjit Singh), Kushwaha ( Maurya), (e.g. Babu Singh Kushwaha), the Bhil people (an Adivasi ethnic group), [24] Koeris, [25] Dusadh, [25] Charans, Kumawat [20] and Rajpurohits. The surname 'Singh' is used by many caste groups in Bihar. [26] The name is also found among the Indian diaspora.
It is also popular as a last name among Thakuri and Jyaapoo community of Nepal. And it is used as middle name among Chhetri , Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai and Limbu communities of Nepal. Some of the examples are:-
"Singh" is generally used as a surname or as a middle name/title (e.g. Mahendra Singh Dhoni). When used as a middle name, it is generally followed by the caste, clan or family name. To stop the practice of caste system in Sikhism, some Sikhs append " Khalsa" or their native village names to Singh (e.g. Harinder Singh Khalsa). [27]
Originally, a common practice among the Rajput men was to have "Singh" as their last name, while Rajput women had the last name 'Kanwar'. However, now, many Rajput women have Singh in their name (e.g. Prashanti Singh) as well. [28]
Singh is a common Hindu name in Guyana. [29] Some Indian immigrants to British Guiana are believed to have adopted surnames traditionally associated with high caste status, including Sharma and Tiwari (Brahmin), as well as Singh (Kshatriya). [30]
A section of around a million adherents of Sikhism that live abroad in Western countries only keep Singh or Kaur as their last name. This has caused legal problems in immigration procedures, especially in Canada. For a decade, the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi stated in letters to its Sikh clients that "the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada", requiring people with these surnames to adopt new ones. The ban was denounced by the Sikh community, after which the Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced it was dropping the policy, calling the whole issue a misunderstanding based on a "poorly worded" letter. [31]
The use of the two names by baptized Sikhs was originally intended to end the prejudice created by names pertaining to the various Hindu castes
Singh was a common name utilised by Rajputs, the Hindu ruling or warrior caste.
The male members were given the surname Singh (lion) and female members were given the surname Kaur (princess), with the intention of creating a parallel system of aristocratic titles in relation to the Rajput hill chiefs of the surronding areas of Anandpur.
As the term 'Singh' meaning 'lion' was adopted from the Rajputs, so too was the name 'Kaur'
The code of conduct (rahit) expected of all initiates of the Khalsa, as laid down by Guru Gobind Singh and subsequently eloborated, emphasises both the equality of its members and the martial spirit expected of them by awarding the Rajput titles of Singh ('lion') to men and Kaur ('princess') to women, irrespective of caste origin.
In the process of forming a casteless society, many first generation Nepalis (and Indians) changed their surnames to Singh, which is a neutral and now common surname.
Some individuals often drop their surnames and use generic names such as Kumar, Lal, Singh, or Chowdhary that are not jati specific.
Going by the usage, Singh is more a title than a surname, cutting across communities and religious groups.
Bundela Uprising of 1842
In those days, "Singh" as a surname was very popular among a famous warrior caste of north India, the Rajputs. Some of the first Sikhs were also Rajputs.
The surname, Singh, for example, was appropriated over a period of several centuries of acculturation by different Hindu castes, including lower castes as well as followers of Jainism.
Similarly, Koyeris, a backward caste, claim themselves as Kushwaha Kshatriya and Dusadh, another scheduled caste, claim themselves as Gahlout Kshatriya. Some of their members use titles like ' Singh ' and ' Thakur.