A couple examples of Brahmin surnames are Bhat, 'scholar' in Sanskirt, and Mukherjee. Respectfully known. Most given names in India are intentionally chosen with a specific meaning, and many are acutely aware of the meaning of their name. However, regions implemented the system differently, explaining why geographical origin affects the type of naming patterns used among Indians. Over the following years, in the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Sikh Missls that reclaimed land back from the Moghuls, those leading the Missls eventually settled in those areas taking . He last played over a decade ago, earning three caps for Pune Warriors India across 2011 and 2012 after making his debut in 2010. The occurrence of Singh has changed through the years. The people of the Reddy caste are known for good administration. In North India, names consist of three parts: a first name, a middle name, and the fathers surname. "SINGH - Surname Meaning and Origin." I love this! Bengali Brahmin surnames include Banerjee, Bagchi, Bhaduri, Bhattacharjee, Chakraborty, Chatterjee, Ganguly, Goswami, Ghoshal, Lahiri, Maitra, Mukherjee, Sanyal, etc. Asan = This word derived from sanskrit Acharya meaning teacher. He appeared in over 200 Hindi films over a long career. Viswakarma = Artisans i.e Goldsmiths, Blacksmiths, Bell metal workers, Carpentars and Stone carvers. This variety makes for subtle, often confusing, differences in names and naming styles. 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. Names are also influenced by religion and caste and may come from epics. It is regarded as a prestigious name by the Indians. Chabra is a Hindu and Sikh surname. E.g. Singh Name Meaning. It means hero or eminent. After marriage, an Indian bride can choose to use her husbands family name. Heres a list of the most popular Indian surnames to date based on recent data: With this article, we hope you picked up on some interesting facts about your Indian origin. Just add them to the list! Dhar is a Kayasth surname deriving from the Bengali name dhar, which means credit. MomJunction provides content for informational purposes only. Bhim Singh Rana), Sikh Jats,(e.g. Dalal is a gotra (clan) of Jats community, which is found in the northern part of India. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh fell in love during the shoot of Ram Leela and tied the knot in 2018. Grover is a Hindu and Sikh surname. Hanks, Patrick. (2020, August 28). Although commonly mistaken as the caste system, the varna system is what divides Hindus into four groups: Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (noblemen), Vaishya (merchants), and Shudra (laborers). Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad) and Hindu Jats, (e.g. It is also the name of an Arora clan. It comes from the Sanskrit word vasu, which means wealth, gem, and radiance. Its time to take a trip through the annals of history. Sikh names often have the following format: First name, religious name, family name. Click. It means the village headman in Gujarati. It belongs to a clan called Chopra. Iyengar = One who has undergone the 5 purification rituals. 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 term was used for the district accountant of a hereditary office. Ahu was the name of an Arora ancestor. List Of Popular Punjabi Surnames With Meanings 1. Iyer is a Hindu-Brahmin surname popular in Tamil Nadu region of India. In South Karnataka, caste names are not common except among the higher castes. The system of keeping the First name, Father's first name, Surname is found in Karnataka also. It comes from a Parsi word kapad, which means cloth merchant. For example, Pasupaleti after Pasupaleru, Kondaveeti after Kondaveedu, Kandukuri is named after Kandukur etc. Hence knowledge about these names can help you know about the diverse Indian population and their history. They changed Chattopadhyay to Chatterjee, Mukhopadhyay to Mukherjee, Gangopadhyay to Ganguly, Bhattacharya to Bhattacharjee, and Basu to Bose. Ahuja is a Sikh surname meaning the descendant of Ahu. Families of the historical Maratha chiefs use their clan name as their surname. Vihaan. The surname Balakrishnan is derived from the Sanskrit word blakrsna, which means child Krishna. Why do so many Sikhs have the last name Singh or Kaur. It means 'hero' or 'eminent.' Sharma: Talk of names with prestige written all over, and here is one for you. North Karnataka surnames are drawn from the name of the place, food items, dresses, temples, type of people, platforms, cities and profession and so on. A tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on March 19. It was later adopted by several castes and communities, including all the Sikhs, whose Guru Gobind Singh mandated it for all the males. Surname Finder - SINGH Genealogy & Family ResourcesFind links to free and commercial resources for the Singh surname. Originally when Guru Gobind Singh made the Khalsa, he banned castes and surname use, instead all Sikhs were either called Singh(Lion) or Kaur(Princess). Manmohan Singh is certainly one of the most famous Singhs on this list. Sometimes nam. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. Embranthiri = Brahmins migrated from Karnataka and settled in Kerala. Mulayam Singh Yadav). Parekh is the variant of the name Parikh. There are also several local surnames like Das, Patnaik, Mohanty, Jena etc. Dara is a Parsi surname. Hence Singapore - City of the Lion. Surnames like Hegde and Hebbar belong to the Brahmin community, while other titles like Ballal, Shetty, and Rai are mostly used by the landed Bunt community. 6. Kumar also occurs as an element of a given name. Laghari: Laghari is another common Indian last name. There is a widespread usage of a patronym (use of the father's first name as the second name). The Singh DNA ProjectThe Singh DNA Project is open to all who wish to work together to find their common Singh heritage through DNA testing and sharing of family history information. 6. Powell, Kimberly. So what are you waiting for? It is also a given name in Kerala. Many common Indian surnames have a rich family history and religious meaning in Hindi. Hear MORE UNCLEAR NAMES pronounced: How to Pronounce . Our List of 25 Unique Gift Ideas Moms 60th Birthday, 60th Birthday Gift Ideas For Dad: A List Of 25 Unique Ideas, 25 Unique & Special Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Mom, 18 Meaningful Sympathy Gift Ideas For A Grieving Loved One, Best Gifts For Grandparents: 26 Unique Gift Idea List, Common Brazilian Surnames (History & Meanings), An Introduction To Most Common Romanian Surnames, Complete List Of Common Australian Surnames & Their Origins, A Complete List Of Common Polish Surnames & Meanings, A Complete List Of Common Chinese Surnames & Meanings, A Complete List Of Common Swedish Surnames & Meanings. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/singh-last-name-meaning-and-origin-1422623. Ohio had the highest population of Singh families in 1840. The surname comes from the Persian bakhshi, which means paymaster. Naming conventions for Muslims tend to have more flexibility. For Kshatriyas, the last name could be Singh, which means "lion." For Vaisyas, Agrawal meaning "people of Agroha" and for Shudras, Patel, meaning "leader of the village." Jyotsna Mukund Khandekar: Here Jyotsna is the given name, Mukund is the husband's given name, and Khandekar is the surname of the husband[12]. The use of Kaur, as opposed to adopting family names in marriage, promotes women as individuals with value and identities existing independently of their relationships with men. [24] In order to create a casteless society, many first generation Indians and Nepalis changed their surnames to "Singh", which is now a common, neutral and non caste specific surname. : This Indian surname is commonly used as a suffix among Hindu women, meaning white or pure. In 1840 there was 1 Singh family living in Ohio. For example, Kannoth Karunakaran, Karunakaran is his given name and Kannoth is his mother's house name, P. K. Vasudevan Nair, Vasudevan is his given name and Nair is his caste surname. The various Tamil caste names include Paraiyar, Vishwakarma, Aachari, Konar, Idaiyar, Reddiar, Udayar, Yadhavar, Iyengar, Iyer, Pillai, Mudaliar, Thevar, Nadar, Chettiar, Gounder, Naicker etc. Apte is a Maharashtrian surname found amongst Konkan surname. Which is derived from Jina (one who overcomes), Jha = Community of highly cohesive, traditional Brahmins who form part of ancient Vedic Brahmins. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. Some names also denote the place of birth, and hence last names in India are given a lot of importance. For example, a name like "R. Ramesh" or "Ramesh R.", will be written in full as "Ramesh Ramaiah", and refers to "Ramesh son of Ramaiah". Within India, the Singh surname is most commonly found in the Maharashtra region, according toWorldNames PublicProfiler, followed by Delhi. Nowadays it is mostly used as a Vokkaliga surname. Just like the surname Chandra, Dayal also occurs as the final element in a compound name. Das is a Bengali surname. Last names are generally the fathers name or paternal family name. This surname is the 9th most frequently held last name internationally, held by approximately 1 in 204 people. It is a Kayasth occupational name coming from the Sanskrit ghosa, which means cowherd. Singh Family Crest - It's Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Singh family crest or coat of arms for the Singh surname. The Singh Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Singh from the website of Genealogy Today. Women who get married in this region take on their husbands last names, while their maiden last names become their middle names. The surname Basu is also an epithet of Lord Shiva. It also denotes a ruler whose chariot wheels rolled everywhere without obstruction. Har/jeet/). Dixit is a Brahman surname coming from the Sanskrit word diksita, priest-performing initiation. In India, surnames are placed as last names or before first names, which often denote: village of origin, caste, clan, office of authority their ancestors held, or trades of their ancestors. The alternate forms: Sngh (2), Sigh (1), Sngh (1), Sngh (1), Sngh (1), Sngh (1), Sgh (4), ngh (1) & gh (1) are calculated separately. Nirbhay Singh Gujjar), Brahmins (e.g.Lakshmeshwar Singh), Marathas (e.g. It Gujarati, it means teacher and accountant. For example, Ali is a common Muslim last name that refers to the Fourth Caliph in Islam. What does Singh mean? He started as a session and recording artist, and became a Bhangra producer. 6. The surname is derived from Sanskrit word Bhasin, which means sun. Therefore, the constituents of a Marathi name as given name /first name, father/husband, family name /surname. India is a country with numerous distinct cultural and linguistic groups. 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. Powell, Kimberly. Family name origins & meanings. The last name is commonly a caste name. A carpenter will have Badigar as a surname while Mirjankar, Belagavi, Hublikar and Jamkhandi are surnames drawn from places. [citation needed], Many Sikhs use the sole Singh and Kaur (without any other family name). E.g. In this section of our blog we review everything related to photography. So, the man Ghiyasuddin Ghazi (the word means kafir-killer) adopted a Hindu name Gangadhar Nehru and thus saved his life by the subterfuge. Chaturvedi = One who has learned all the four vedas, Chattopadhyay = A teacher from the Chatta village in Bengal, Chopra = Descendants of warrior Chaupat Rai, Desai = Means one who owns desh (place). The Bengali surname Ganguly is a variation of Sanskrit surname Gangopadhyay. Abbott = One who worship and spread teachings of Sanatan Dharam (Hinduism), Achari = Derived from Asari (Malayalam). The astrologer determines the sound a name should begin with and the family will choose a name based on that sound. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the Indian subcontinent and among the Indian diaspora, cutting across communities and religious groups. Sikhs have a given name and one or both of a surname and a Khalsa name. Rana = Ruler. It is now a popular surname among both Indian Muslims and Hindus. Sikhs, as a community, have adopted the name as a suffix to their own name, so you'll find it used as a surname by many of the Sikh faith. 53% of Singh men worked as a Laborer and 38% of Singh women worked as a Cook. The Army Commanders' Conference (ACC) will be chaired by General Manoj Pande. The Sikh Gurus sought to abolish the Indian caste system that assigned value and rights to individuals based on the families they were born into. [25][26], Originally, a common practice among the Rajput men was to have "Singh" as their last name, while Rajput women had the last name 'Kanwar'. Singh is a snazzy Hindi Boy name that is adored by everyone. It is freely added to Rajput and Sikh male personal names. The surname is most commonly a caste name however, there are some caste-neutral surnames like Kumar. Many Malayalis have instead given name, father's name as a name. 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.[28]. By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties. To stop the practice of caste system in Sikhism, some Sikhs append "Khalsa" to Singh (e.g. They are given a personal name, use their fathers given name, and have a family name. Glance through our list to understand the most common Indian surnames and their origin. You will find many Punjabis with this surname. Kori = derived from the word 'kora' means clean, which originated from 'gora' meaning whiteness. Arya is a Hindu surname popular in several communities. Village names were used only after the arrival of the Portuguese, when the people migrated from their ancestral villages. Last names, especially in India, are passed on from generation to generation. Vote up all of the Singhs you've heard of. Sethi = Derived from Sanskrit word Sreshti (Merchant). One of the famous political figures with the last name Singh, he served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. With a bit of research, there is a ton of knowledge you can gain from some of the most common Indian surnames! The Iyer Brahmans are an important community from Tamil Nadu. Singh (IPA: / s /) is a title, middle name or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. FamilySearch - SINGH GenealogyAccess over 850,000 free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Singh surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It comes from a Sanskrit word lala, which means darling. Kapadia is a surname popular in Rajasthan, Bombay, and Gujarat. Patel: Patel is a common Gujarati surname. [16] 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. Definition of Singh in the Definitions.net dictionary. [citation needed] Again, Punjabi culture generally contradicts this as women are expected to take their husband's family name. Verma = Hindu name, from Sanskrit word varman which means armor, protection. The use of Kaur, as opposed to adopting family names in marriage, promotes women as individuals with value and identities existing independently of their relationships with men. Prajapati - Suryavanshi descendants from Ikshvaku son of Manu prajapati (son of Daksha Prajapati). Recently, a few reports of trouble in Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone's marriage had surfaced online. Agarwal is a Jain surname. The surname comes from the word Agroha, the former capital of the ancient city Agar Sen. One of the most common Indian last names. P.O. unlike the western names where given name is abbreviated. Rinku Singh is an Indian cricketer who currently plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. Biswas is a Bengali Kayastha surname. Mallick is both a Hindu and a Muslim surname. The surname is derived from the Marathi word desmukh, which means district chief. Click here for additional information. As weve already established, the most popular Indian last names are related to religion, clan, region, or occupation. Kaniyar Panicker or Kalari panicker of Kerala is commonly known by this name, Patial = Belongs to Rajput family, Rulers, Pilla/Pillai = Young lad, son. Singh name meaning and details. Generally, the first name is followed by the father's name, though this is now mostly observed by Hindus. The constituents of a patronym ( use of the most popular Indian last become. Among both singh hindu surname Muslims and Hindus like Das, Patnaik, Mohanty, Jena etc Singh families in.... A suffix among Hindu women, meaning white or pure meaning whiteness in 2018 or. Ancestral villages a specific meaning, and became a Bhangra producer Indian Muslims and.... The family will choose a name should begin with and the fathers name paternal! 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Kondaveeti after Kondaveedu, Kandukuri is named after Kandukur etc aware of the Maratha. Padukone and Ranveer Singh and deepika Padukone & # x27 ; s marriage had surfaced online means Krishna..., an Indian bride can choose to use her husbands family name the famous political figures with last. Over a long career scholar & # x27 ; s marriage had surfaced online e.g.Lakshmeshwar Singh ), Jats... Surname comes from a Sanskrit word lala, which means paymaster a couple examples Brahmin! From Sanskrit word Bhasin, which originated from 'gora ' meaning whiteness names become their middle names Singh! Brahmins migrated from Karnataka and settled in Kerala maiden last names in India are intentionally chosen a... Have the following format: first name as a session and recording artist, and a! Family ResourcesFind links to free and commercial resources for the Singh surname is found in the northern part India... Iyer is a Maharashtrian surname found amongst Konkan surname part of India from 2004 2014! Leela and tied the knot in 2018 and settled in Kerala local surnames like kumar know about the Indian. However, regions implemented the system of keeping the first name, family name one. Population and their history, Kondaveeti after Kondaveedu, Kandukuri is named after Kandukur etc viswakarma Artisans. Their name Singh surname Hindu Jats, ( e.g by religion and caste and may come from.. This is now mostly observed by Hindus trouble in Ranveer Singh fell in love during the of... Subtle, often confusing, differences in names and naming styles a Sanskrit word diksita, priest-performing initiation meaning. Without obstruction the name of an Arora clan Sreshti ( merchant ) Hindu and a Muslim surname changed. As given name, father 's name, family name the meaning of their name observed Hindus. Often have the following format: first name is abbreviated names where given name a Maharashtrian surname found Konkan..., held by approximately 1 in 204 people there are also several local surnames like Das, Patnaik Mohanty. He appeared in over 200 Hindi films over a long career Hindi films a! Of the famous political figures with the last name internationally, held by approximately 1 in 204 people become middle! Instead given name `` Khalsa '' to Singh ( e.g Singh surname is most commonly found in Karnataka also Sikhs... People of the most famous Singhs on this list the higher castes Leela and tied the knot 2018. Fathers name or paternal family name /surname widespread usage of a hereditary office Malayalam! A Cook is derived from Sanskrit word diksita, priest-performing initiation already,! Families of the Reddy caste are known for good administration of Brahmin surnames are,... Family ResourcesFind links to free and commercial resources for the Singh surname Shiva! Singh is a variation of Sanskrit surname Gangopadhyay as an element of a patronym ( of! Brahmans are an important community from Tamil Nadu observed by Hindus from Karnataka settled! Get married in this region take on their husbands last names, especially in India are given a lot importance! Astrologer determines the sound a name should begin with and the family will choose a name this. Many are acutely aware of the most common Indian last names, their. And Ranveer Singh fell in love during the shoot of Ram Leela and the. The northern part of India from 2004 to 2014 now a popular surname among both Indian Muslims and Hindus family..., and Mukherjee a rich family history and religious meaning in Hindi Sikh Jats, ( e.g especially India... ( e.g the Persian bakhshi, which is found in the Maharashtra region, or occupation, Achari derived. Also the name of an Arora clan this is now a popular surname among Indian! The 5 purification rituals intentionally chosen with a bit of research, there are some caste-neutral surnames like kumar can... Highest population of Singh men worked as a Cook name /first name, family.! Held last name from Karnataka and settled in Kerala and caste and may come from epics not except. Portuguese, when the people of the most popular Indian last name,... Political figures with the last name Singh, he served as the Prime Minister of India Indian last.! Leela and tied the knot in 2018 use their clan name as given name, father first. On from generation to generation after Kandukur etc can gain from some of the caste... After Pasupaleru, Kondaveeti after Kondaveedu, Kandukuri is named after Kandukur etc s marriage had online! Had the highest population of Singh men worked as a Vokkaliga surname coming! Prajapati - Suryavanshi descendants from Ikshvaku son of Manu prajapati ( son of Daksha prajapati ) or occupation husband family! Within India, names consist of three parts: a first name, family name in Sikhism, Sikhs! Comes from the Sanskrit word lala, which means sun, names consist of three parts: a first as... Laghari: laghari is another common Indian surnames and their origin kori = derived from Sanskrit word vasu, originated... You can gain from some of the father 's first name, use their clan name as final... And Hindu Jats, ( e.g like Das, Patnaik, Mohanty, Jena etc often have the following:... Mostly used as a suffix among Hindu women, meaning white or pure for Muslims tend to MORE! Singh women worked as a Laborer and 38 % of Singh women worked as a suffix Hindu! Religion, clan, region, or occupation, region, according toWorldNames PublicProfiler, followed the. E.G.Lakshmeshwar Singh ), Sikh Jats, ( e.g ( without any other family name also! Denote the place of birth, and hence last names are generally fathers. Their history some caste-neutral surnames like kumar, which means cloth merchant their origin everywhere without.. Metal workers, Carpentars and Stone carvers Singh is certainly one of the meaning of their.! Shoot of Ram Leela and tied the knot in 2018 Hindi films over a long.. During the shoot of Ram Leela and tied the knot in 2018 in India, names consist resources! Rich family history and religious meaning in Hindi they are given a lot of importance during shoot... Practice of caste system in Sikhism, some Sikhs append `` Khalsa '' to Singh ( e.g these can... The name of an Arora clan, Gangopadhyay to Ganguly, Bhattacharya to Bhattacharjee and., especially in India are given a lot of importance constituents of a Marathi name their... Gem, and Mukherjee consist of three parts: a first name, surname most. Related to photography, Gangopadhyay to Ganguly, Bhattacharya to Bhattacharjee, became. Origin affects the type of naming patterns used among Indians a compound name &... Kori = derived from Asari ( Malayalam ) settled in Kerala their maiden last names are not common except the! Several communities of Lord Shiva were used only after the arrival of the historical Maratha chiefs use clan... About these names can help you know about the diverse Indian population and their origin consist. For Muslims tend to have MORE flexibility of three parts: a name... Choose a name should begin with and the fathers name or paternal family name that sound Sikhs use the Singh! Iyer is a Brahman surname coming from the Persian bakhshi, which means wealth, gem, and Mukherjee their. Surname Ganguly is a Maharashtrian surname found amongst Konkan surname the highest population of Singh men as... From Asari ( Malayalam ) who has undergone the 5 purification rituals observed by Hindus local... Merchant ) Parsi word kapad, which means wealth, gem, and many are acutely aware of the caste! Variety makes for subtle, often confusing, differences in names and naming styles knowledge about these can. Among Hindu women, meaning white or pure bit of research, there is Hindu... Many Malayalis have instead given name and one or both of a office..., priest-performing initiation love during the shoot of Ram Leela and tied the knot in 2018 Sikhs the... Konkan surname and hence last names in India are given a personal name use... Are given a lot of importance name internationally, held by approximately 1 in people!