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Singh Family History

Singh Name Meaning

Indian (northern states): originally a Kshatriya name but now widely adopted by Sikhs and other communities from Sanskrit siṃha ‘lion’ hence ‘hero’ or ‘eminent person’. It is freely added to Rajput and Sikh male personal names. In the US and elsewhere in immigrant communities it often functions as a Sikh surname.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Sing, Ming, Ying, Ping, Ing, Song, Sangha, Jing, Sang, Winch

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Singh family from?

You can see how Singh families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Singh family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Singh families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 13 Singh families living in London. This was about 50% of all the recorded Singh's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Singh families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Singh surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Singh ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Pedlar and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Singh. 14% of Singh men worked as a Pedlar and 85% of Singh women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Singh were Drapery Pedlar and Hairdresser. .

View Census Data for Singh | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Pedlar
    14%
  • Builders Labourer
    13%
  • Silk Merchant
    8%
  • Drapery Pedlar
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Hairdresser
    16%
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What Singh family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Singh. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Singh census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Singh

Passenger Lists

There are 45,000 immigration records available for the last name Singh. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Singh immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Singh. For the veterans among your Singh ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Singh military records

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What is the average Singh lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Singh life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Singh in 1955 was 59, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Singh

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