NameCensus.

UK surname

Kaur

A Sikh surname given to all baptized females, meaning "princess" or "lioness," representing gender equality within the faith.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kaur surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49,067, ranked #98, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kaur is 49,067 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4906600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

49,067

2016, ranked #98

Peak year

2016

49,067 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kaur had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 49,067 in 2016, ranked #98.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Kaur surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kaur surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kaur surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kaur over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 32,310 #151
1998 modern 33,638 #151
1999 modern 34,317 #152
2000 modern 35,688 #144
2001 modern 34,275 #147
2002 modern 36,439 #140
2003 modern 36,859 #136
2004 modern 37,710 #132
2005 modern 38,699 #121
2006 modern 40,127 #116
2007 modern 41,684 #113
2008 modern 42,717 #113
2009 modern 42,983 #113
2010 modern 45,009 #112
2011 modern 46,770 #109
2012 modern 46,947 #104
2013 modern 48,183 #104
2014 modern 48,718 #103
2015 modern 48,460 #101
2016 modern 49,067 #98

Geography

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Where Kaurs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Ealing and Birmingham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
2 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
5 Birmingham 039 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kaur

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kaur surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kaur

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kaur, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Kaur surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kaur household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Kaur is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kaur is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kaur falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kaur is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kaur, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kaur

The surname Kaur originated in the Punjab region of South Asia, particularly in present-day India and Pakistan. It is a Punjabi name that dates back to the 16th century, during the time of the Sikh Gurus. Kaur is a title given to all Sikh females, regardless of their family name or lineage.

The word Kaur is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Kumari,' which means princess or maiden. It signifies honor, respect, and dignity for Sikh women. The name Kaur was introduced by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, as a way to promote gender equality and empower women within the Sikh community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaur can be found in the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which contains writings from various Sikh Gurus and saints from the 16th to the 18th century. Notable examples of women with the name Kaur mentioned in the scripture include Mata Khivi Kaur, the wife of Guru Angad Dev, and Mata Ganga Kaur, the wife of Guru Arjan Dev.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Kaur. These include Maharani Jind Kaur (1817-1863), who ruled as the regent of the Sikh Empire after the death of her husband, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Another prominent figure was Ajai Kaur (1917-1976), an Indian politician and social activist who played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kaur include Bibi Nanki Kaur (1556-1618), the elder sister of Guru Arjan Dev, who was instrumental in spreading the teachings of Sikhism; Mata Sahib Kaur (1681-1747), the mother of Guru Gobind Singh and a renowned poet; and Rani Rajinder Kaur (1872-1909), a Sikh princess and patron of arts and literature.

It is important to note that while Kaur is primarily associated with the Sikh community, it has also been adopted by some Hindu and Muslim families in the Punjab region, particularly those with close ties to Sikh culture and traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kaur families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kaur surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1 Kaurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Kaurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 285.71x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 1 285.71x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kaur surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Stacey 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kaur households.

Occupation Count
Annuitant 1

FAQ

Kaur surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kaur surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Kaur surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kaur surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 49,067 in 2016. That gives Kaur a modern rank of #98.

What does the Kaur surname mean?

A Sikh surname given to all baptized females, meaning "princess" or "lioness," representing gender equality within the faith.

What does the Kaur map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kaur bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.