Kaur
A Sikh and Punjabi feminine given-name element that has also become a surname, originally meaning “princess” or “noble lady.”
The #711 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 6,333 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kaur comes from the Punjabi/Sikh female name element Kaur, ultimately from Sanskrit roots associated with “princess” or “lady of rank.” In Sikh tradition it is used as a standard middle name or surname for women, paired with Singh for men. Because of that religious and cultural practice, it is not a typical hereditary surname in the European sense, even though it is often used that way in modern records.
History
The name became especially prominent through Sikh naming customs, where it helps mark female identity and equality within the community. In the modern diaspora, especially in India, the UK, Canada, and the United States, Kaur is frequently recorded as a surname for administrative convenience, even when culturally it functions more like a mandated family-name element. Its high visibility in census and immigration records reflects Sikh naming practice rather than a single ancestral line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Among Sikhs, Kaur is commonly used for women in much the same symbolic way that Singh is used for men.