Kaur

Kaur is a Punjabi surname commonly used by Sikh women. It is the feminine counterpart to Singh, the surname traditionally used by Sikh men. The name Kaur derives from Punjabi and means princess. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh introduced the Khalsa naming convention, asking Sikhs to adopt Singh for men and Kaur for women as surnames to promote equality and to remove caste-based identifiers.

In contemporary use, Kaur is widespread among Sikhs in Punjab and in the diaspora, including India, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. It is typically attached to a woman’s given name as a surname. The practice reflects an emphasis on egalitarian values within the Sikh tradition and is observed across diverse communities that follow Sikh naming customs.

Notable individuals with the surname include Rupi Kaur, a Canadian poet known for works such as Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers, who has contributed to broader recognition of the name in modern literature.