By YASEMIN TALAT
The surname Singh has been released as the most common surname in Wyndham as listed in the 2013/14 White and Yellow Pages.
The surnames Singh and Smith have been head to head for a number of years, but this year Singh finally reigned supreme.
Surnames Tran and Robinson did not make it to the top 20 this year.
Instead, surnames Kumar and Sharma made their way onto the list.
Hoppers Crossing resident Daya Jot Singh said he is not surprised Singh has made it to the top as it is one of the most common Indian surnames.
“Singh as a surname was given to us by our gurus to abolish the caste system of India,” Mr Singh said.
“He said God has created you all equal so you are all equal.”
Singh is used as a surname or middle name by Sikhs and Hindu communities, and is only found in males.
“In any other society on this globe surnames are by blood but our surname is by religion, to abolish the discrimination in society,” Mr Singh said.
The female equivalent of the surname is Kaur, a common surname for women.
It is not compulsory by religion for women to change their surname after marriage.
So Mr Singh’s wife and daughter carry the surname Kaur.
Mr Singh said he was delighted that the Indian community was growing in Wyndham.
Other surnames in the top 5 include Williams, Wilson and Jones.
