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	{{Short description\|Surname originating from the Asias}}		{{Short description\|Surname originating from the Asias}}
	{{For\|a list of people with the surname\|List of people with surname Singh}}		{{For\|a list of people with the surname\|List of people with surname Singh}}

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{{Short description|Surname originating from the Asias}}
{{for|a list of people with the surname|List of people with surname Singh}}
{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=300|caption_align=center
| image1 = |caption1=Rajput ruler [[Rana Sanga|Rana Sangram Singh]] (1482-1528).
| image2 = Guru Gobind Singh creates the Khalsa.jpg|caption2=Creation of the [[Khalsa]] by Sikh Guru [[Gobind Singh]], 1699 CE.
| image3 = Pratap Singh of Thanjavur.jpg|caption3=[[Maratha]] ruler [[Pratap Singh of Thanjavur]] (ruled 1739-1763).
| image4 = Portrait of mathabar singh thapa.jpg|caption4= [[Prime Minister of Nepal|Prime Minister]] and Commander-in-Chief of Nepal [[Mathabar Singh Thapa]] (1843-1845) of the [[Chhetri]] [[Thapa dynasty]].
| image5 = Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh, 1888.jpg|caption5=Maharaja [[Lakshmeshwar Singh]] of [[Raj Darbhanga]] in [[Bihar]], published in Graphic Magazine, December 1888.
}}
'''Singh''' ([[Help:IPA|IPA]]: {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|ŋ}}) is a [[title]], [[middle name]], or [[surname]] that means "[[lion]]" in various [[Languages of South Asia|South Asian]] languages. Traditionally used by the Hindu [[Kshatriya]] community, it was later mandated in the 18th century by [[Guru Gobind Singh]] for all male [[Sikh]]s as well, in part as a rejection of [[caste system in India|caste]]-based prejudice.<ref name="concise#">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4XycAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1346 | title=Concise Oxford English Dictionary: Book & CD-ROM Set | publisher=OUP Oxford |author1=Angus Stevenson |author2=Maurice Waite | year=2011 | pages=1346 | isbn=9780199601103}}</ref> It has also been adopted by several castes and communities. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the world across communities and religious groups, becoming more of a title than a surname.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ | title=Communities, segments, synonyms, surnames and titles | publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] | author=Kumar Suresh Singh | author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh | year=1996 | isbn=9780195633573 |page=32 |quote=Going by the usage, Singh is more a title than a surname, cutting across communities and religious groups. }}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

== Etymology and variations ==

The word "Singh" is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word सिंह ([[IAST]]: siṃha) meaning "lion", and is used in the sense "hero" or "eminent person".<ref>{{cite book |editor=Patrick Hanks |title=Dictionary of American Family Names |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vG7MZ9J6dAgC&pg=RA2-PA354 |year=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-508137-4 |page=354 }}</ref>

Several variants of the word are found in other languages:
* In [[Hindi languages|Hindi]] and [[Nepali language|Nepali]], the name is written सिंह, and pronounced {{IPA-hi|sɪŋɡʱ|}} in Hindi and {{IPA-ne|siŋɦʌ|}} in Nepali.
* In [[Odia language|Odia]], the name is written as ‘ସିଂ’ ({{IPA-or|siŋ|pron}}) or ‘ସିଂହ’ ({{IPA-or|siŋɦɔ|pron}} or {{IPA-or|sinhɔ|}}).
* In [[Bengali language|Bengali]], the name is written as সিংহ (''Siṁhô'') which also means lion, however the name is pronounced as ''Shingh''.
* In [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] ([[Gurmukhi]] script/[[Shahmukhi]] script), the name is written as ਸਿੰਘ/{{nq|سِنگھ}} and pronounced as {{IPA-pa|sɪ́ŋɡ|}}.
* In [[Urdu]], it is written as {{nq|سِنگھ}} with the same pronunciation as Hindi. Variations include Simha and Sinha in [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Vanita |first=Ruth | author-link=Ruth Vanita | title=Gandhi's tiger and Sita's smile: essays on gender, sexuality and culture | publisher=Yoda Press | location=[[New Delhi]]|year=2005|oclc=70008421|isbn=978-81-902272-5-4|page=37}}</ref>
* In [[Maithili language|Maithili]], the name is written as सिंह and both Singh and Sinha are used interchangeably.
* In [[Magahi]] language , the name is written as सिंह and is used by people of dominating castes.
* In [[Marathi language|Marathi]], the name is written सिंह and pronounced as {{IPA|sinhə|}}.
* In [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], it is spelled as સિંહ (''Sinh'') and pronounced {{IPA-gu|'sĩɦ|}}.<ref>[[wikt:સિંહ|"સિંહ"]]. ''Wiktionary''. Retrieved 01 May 2020.</ref> Another variant is Sinhji, where the suffix of respect 'ji' is added.
* In [[Shina language|Shina]], it is spelled as {{nq|سِنگھ}}.
* In [[Chinese language|Chinese]], Shīzi (狮子) means [[lion]].
* In [[Telugu language|Telugu]], the word for lion is simham (సింహం).
* In [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], simham (സിംഹം) means [[lion]].
* In [[Meitei language|Meitei]], the name is written and pronounced as Singh or (ꯁꯤꯪꯒ), although many meitei communities are shifting back to the traditional naming system. The Bishnupuri Manipuri people use Sinha (সিনহা) or Singha(সিংহ).{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
* In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], the name is Singham written as சிங்கம்.
* In [[Singhala language|Singhala]], the name is written {{lang|si|සිංහ}} and pronounced {{transl|si|[[Singha]]}}.
* In [[Burmese language|Burmese]], it is spelled {{lang|my|သီဟ}} (''thiha''), derived from the Pali variant ''siha.''
* In [[Thailand]], ''singha'' is known as ''sing'' (สิงห์), meaning "lion".
* In [[Indonesia]] and [[Malaysia]], Singa or Singha, means [[lion]].
* In [[Kannada language|Kannada]] the name is simha and written as ಸಿಂಹ.

== History ==
[[File:Western Satrap Coin of Rudrasimha I .jpg|thumb|300px|Coin of the Western Kshatrapa ruler [[Rudrasimha I]] (178 to 197 CE) who used "Simha" as suffix.]]
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 [[Saka]] ruler [[Rudradaman I|Rudraraman]] in the second century CE. [[Jayasimha (Vatapi Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha]], the first ruler of the [[Chalukya dynasty]] to bear the title Simha, ruled around 500 CE. The [[Chalukyas of Vengi|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 "[[Varma (name)|Varman]]". Among the [[Rajput]]s, the use of the word Simha came into vogue among the [[Paramara]]s of Malwa in 10th century CE, among the [[Guhilot]]s and the [[Kachwaha]]s of [[Narwar]] in the 12th century CE, and the [[Rathore]]s of Marwar after the 17th century.<ref name="Qanungo">{{cite book|last=Qanungo|first=Kalika Ranjan|title=Studies in Rajput History|publisher=[[S. Chand]]|location=[[Delhi]]|year=1960|oclc=1326190|pages=138–140}}</ref>

By the sixteenth century, "Singh" had become a popular surname among Rajputs.<ref name="Chander2003">{{cite book|author=Prakash Chander|title=India: Past & Present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_Rl5c_v1-kC&pg=PA120|access-date=11 January 2013|date=1 January 2003|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7648-455-8|pages=120 |quote=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.}}</ref> 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]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=-QR8tAEACAAJ A History of the Sikh People (1469-1988)] by Dr. Gopal Singh {{ISBN|81-7023-139-6}}{{page needed|date=December 2018}}</ref><ref name=" Catherine B. Asher, Cynthia Talbot">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvaGuaJIJgoC&q=jat+surname+singh&pg=PA269 | title=India Before Europe | publisher=Cambridge University Press |author1=Catherine B. Asher |author2=Cynthia Talbot | year=2006 | pages=269 | isbn=9780521809047}}</ref>

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".<ref name="Qanungo"/> [[Bhumihar]]s, who originally used Brahmin surnames, also started affixing Singh to their names.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOXZAAAAMAAJ |title=Community And Caste In Tradition |year=1992 |author=Virendra Prakash Singh |publisher=Commonwealth |page=113 |isbn=9788171692422 }}</ref> In [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]], the surname came to associated with power and authority, and was adopted by people of multiple castes, including [[Brahmin]] [[zamindar]]s.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Using-surnames-to-conceal-identity/articleshow/4162892.cms | author = Pranava K Chaudhary | title = Using surnames to conceal identity | work = [[The Times of India]] | date = 2009-02-21 | access-date = 2013-01-18 }}</ref> [[Ahir]] ([[Yadav]]), [[Kushwaha]] and [[Kurmi]]s used 'Singh' as part of their name as they claim [[Kshatriya]] status.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=te4DAAAAMAAJ |title=Bhavan's Journal, Volume 12, Issues 1-16 |year=1965 |page=123 }}</ref>

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, [[Gujjars]] (e.g. [[Nirbhay Singh Gujjar]]), [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]] (e.g. [[Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad]]) and Hindu [[Jat people|Jat]]s, (e.g. [[Bhim Singh Rana]]), [[Sikh]] [[Jats]],(e.g. [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]), [[Kushwaha]] ([[Maurya]]) ,(e.g. [[Babu Singh Kushwaha]]). The surname 'Singh' is used by many caste groups in [[Bihar]].<ref name="biha">{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Santosh|title=Ruled or Misruled: Story and Destiny of Bihar|date=2015|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9789385436420|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SVu8CgAAQBAJ&q=singh+surname&pg=PT228|access-date=28 July 2016|language=en}}</ref> The name is also found among the [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian diaspora]]. For example, taking advantage of the fact that there was no reliable way to ascertain a person's caste, some of the low-caste [[Indian indenture system|Indian indentured labourers]] brought to [[British Guiana]] adopted the surname "Singh", claiming to be high-caste Kshatriyas.<ref>{{cite book |title=The matrifocal family: power, pluralism, and politics|author=Raymond Thomas Smith |publisher=Routledge |year=1996 |isbn=0-415-91214-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ITRpAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA118 |page=118 }}</ref>

== Usage ==

"Singh" is generally used as a surname (e.g. [[Manmohan Singh]] or [[Yuvraj Singh]]) or as a middle name/title (e.g. [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]]). When used as a middle name, it is generally followed by the caste, clan or family name.
Rajputs may have "Singh" as middle name or last name (e.g. Manish Singh Parmar)<ref>[[Khushwant Singh]], ''A History of the Sikhs, Volume I''</ref> To stop the practice of caste system in Sikhism, some Sikhs append "[[Khalsa]]" to Singh (e.g. [[Harinder Singh Khalsa]]). Some Sikhs add the names of their native villages instead (e.g. [[Harcharan Singh Longowal]], after [[Longowal]]).<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bfmnmsBfQ4C&pg=PA1846 | title=People of India: Maharashtra, Part 3 | publisher=Popular Prakashan | author=B. V. Bhanu Contributors Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Mehta, Anthropological Survey of India | year=2004 | pages=1846 | isbn=9788179911020}}</ref>

Originally, a common practice among the [[Yadav]], [[Rajput]] men was to have "Singh" as their last name, while [[Yadav]], [[Rajput]] women had the last name 'Kanwar'. However, now, many Rajput women have Singh in their name (e.g. [[Prashanti Singh]]) as well.<ref>Kolff, Dirk H.A., ''The Rajput of Ancient and Medieval North India: A Warrior-Ascetic''; Folk, Faith and Feudalism, edited by NK Singh and Rajendra Joshi, Institute of Rajasthan Studies, Jaipur, India. Rawat Publications, Jaipur and New Delhi. {{ISBN|81-7033-273-7}}</ref>

=== Outside South Asia ===

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 [[Diplomatic missions of Canada|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/article/240030|title='Singh' ban denounced |work= Toronto Star |author=San Grewal |date=2007-07-26}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of people with surname Singh]]
* ''[[Singh v Canada]]'', a Supreme Court of Canada case on the applicability of Charter rights to refugee claimants
* [[Sinha]]
* [[Kaur]]

== References ==

{{Reflist|35em}}

[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Pakistani names]]
[[Category:Titles in India]]
[[Category:Sikh names]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language surnames]]

Singh - Revision history

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