NameCensus.

UK surname

Kour

A Hindi surname indicating noble or royal ancestry.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Manchester and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kour is 237 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2016

237 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Kour surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kour surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kour 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 13 #32,208
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 186 #20,379
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 211 #18,539
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Kours 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 Trafford, Manchester, Salford and Preston. 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 Trafford 004 Trafford
2 Manchester 028 Manchester
3 Trafford 001 Trafford
4 Salford 016 Salford
5 Preston 011 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kour

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kour

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kour, 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 Kour 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 Kour 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, Kour 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

Kour 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

Kour falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kour is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Kour

The surname KOUR finds its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Punjab. It is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word "Kuru," which was the name of an ancient kingdom that existed during the Vedic period, around 1000-500 BCE. The Kurus were a prominent clan mentioned in various Hindu texts, including the epic Mahabharata.

KOUR is a variant spelling of the more common surname "KAUR," which is a title used by Sikh women and girls. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kaurava," which refers to the descendants of the Kuru clan. The use of KOUR as a surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was adopted by Sikh families to signify their religious and cultural identity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KOUR can be found in the "Hukumnamas," which were written orders issued by the Sikh Gurus. These manuscripts mention several individuals with the surname KOUR, including Mata Gujri Kour, the wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, who lived in the 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname KOUR. One such person was Maharani Jind Kaur (1817-1863), who was a prominent ruler of the Sikh Empire and played a crucial role in the First Anglo-Sikh War. Another famous bearer of the name was Sardarni Harbans Kaur (1914-2001), a Sikh activist and one of the founding members of the Akali Dal political party.

Two other prominent individuals with the surname KOUR were Bibi Nanki Kour (1556-1618), the elder sister of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, and Bhai Mani Singh Kour (1644-1737), a renowned Sikh scholar and warrior who played a significant role in the Sikh resistance against the Mughal Empire.

While the surname KOUR has its roots in the Sikh community, it has also been adopted by other religious and cultural groups in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions of Punjab and Haryana. The name continues to be widely used and holds cultural significance for many families across the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kour surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kour surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Kour a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Kour surname mean?

A Hindi surname indicating noble or royal ancestry.

What does the Kour map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kour 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.