To legally take, drop or rearrange Singh or Kaur in the UK, you sign a deed poll - the religious ceremony alone does not update your official records. Receiving Amrit at the Amrit Sanchar gives these names their spiritual meaning, but HM Passport Office, the DVLA and your bank need a deed poll before they will change your documents. A professionally printed unenrolled deed poll from UK Name Change costs from £14.49 and is fully accepted by all of them.
What Singh and Kaur mean in the Sikh tradition
In 1699, at the founding of the Khalsa, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, gave Sikh men the name Singh (“lion”) and Sikh women the name Kaur (“princess” or “sovereign”). The purpose was profound: by sharing common names, Sikhs would set aside the surnames that signalled caste and clan, affirming that everyone stands equal before the Divine. Kaur, in particular, gives women an identity that does not depend on a father or husband.
For many Sikhs these are not surnames in the Western sense at all. Traditionally Singh and Kaur sit after the given name as a name in their own right - for example Harpreet Singh or Manjit Kaur - rather than functioning as a family surname passed down the generations. Understanding this distinction matters when you decide exactly how you want your name to appear on legal documents.
Why the religious meaning is separate from the legal change
This is the heart of the matter, and it is worth being clear and respectful about it. Taking Amrit and receiving your name within the Gurdwara is a spiritual milestone - a commitment recognised by your faith and community. It does not, however, change your name on the UK’s legal records. The Government, your bank and your employer do not consult the Gurdwara; they rely on documentary evidence.
A deed poll is simply the legal instrument that bridges the two. It is a formal declaration that you have abandoned your former name and will use your new name for all purposes. The deed poll carries no religious weight whatsoever - it neither adds to nor diminishes the significance of your Amrit. It is a piece of administrative evidence, and that is exactly why it works: it is the proof every UK institution accepts. If you would like the wider picture on faith-based changes, see our guide on changing your name for religious reasons.
Adding Singh or Kaur to your name
If you are adopting Singh or Kaur - perhaps after taking Amrit, or because you were registered at birth with a different surname - a deed poll records the new full name precisely as you want it. You have a few common options:
As your name after your given name
The traditional form places Singh or Kaur directly after your first name, with your former family name removed entirely: Jasdeep Kaur. This reflects classic Sikh naming and the equality it represents.
As a middle name, keeping a family surname
Many British Sikh families keep a recognisable family surname for practical and ancestral reasons and place Singh or Kaur in the middle: Arjan Singh Sandhu. This is entirely valid and very common in the UK.
Adding it to an existing surname
You can also append it to a current surname, or rearrange your names in any order you choose. A deed poll lets you specify the exact spelling, order and combination - there is no fixed template you must follow.
Removing or dropping Singh or Kaur
The same freedom works in reverse. You may wish to remove Singh or Kaur - for instance to use a single family surname, to align documents with a spouse, or for personal reasons. The law treats this exactly like any other name change: it is your decision, no reason needs to be given, and a deed poll records it. Removing these names from your legal documents has no bearing on your standing within your faith; the deed poll only governs your paperwork.
How a deed poll records your Sikh name change
An unenrolled deed poll is the standard, legally valid document used for roughly 98% of UK name changes. It is accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, the NHS, banks, employers and schools. A professionally printed deed poll from UK Name Change starts at £14.49, with same-day dispatch if you order before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. We are trusted by more than 160,000 customers. A solicitor would charge £150-£300 or more for an identical document - an unnecessary expense.
You do not need to pay to “enrol” your deed poll. Enrolment at the Royal Courts of Justice costs £53.05, takes 2-3 weeks and publishes your old and new names in the London Gazette - a public record. It adds no legal validity, so the vast majority of people skip it.
Signing and witnessing
Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll. Under-16s need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility. Your signature must be witnessed by an independent adult (18+) who is not a relative, partner or anyone living at your address. Keep the original wet-ink signed document safe - HM Passport Office, the DVLA and banks need the original, not a photocopy.
Updating your passport, licence and records
Once you have your signed deed poll, you can update everything else. A UK adult passport in your new name costs £102 online or £115.50 by post; Fast Track (1 week) is £192 and Premium (1 day) is £239.50. Updating your DVLA driving licence is free, as is updating your bank, HMRC, the NHS, your employer and your utilities. Send each organisation your original deed poll (or follow their copy-certification process) and they will reissue documents in your new name.
One useful point: a title such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx or Dr is not legally part of your name, so you never need a deed poll to change a title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a deed poll if I received my name when I took Amrit?
Yes, for legal and official purposes. Taking Amrit is spiritually significant, but it does not update your passport, driving licence or bank records. A deed poll is the document UK institutions require to recognise your new name. The two are entirely separate: the ceremony gives the name its meaning, the deed poll records it in law.
Is “Kaur” a surname or a middle name on official documents?
It can be either - the choice is yours. Traditionally Kaur follows the given name as a name in its own right (Manjit Kaur). Many British Sikhs instead keep a family surname and place Kaur as a middle name (Manjit Kaur Gill). Your deed poll states exactly how you want it to appear, and you should write it consistently across all your records.
Can I remove Singh or Kaur from my legal name?
Yes. UK law lets you change your name in either direction without giving a reason. A deed poll records the removal just as it would record adding the name. Doing so affects only your legal paperwork and has no bearing on your religious standing.
Will an unenrolled deed poll be accepted for my passport?
Yes. HM Passport Office accepts an unenrolled deed poll, provided it is the original wet-ink copy and properly witnessed. Enrolment at the Royal Courts of Justice (£53.05) is optional and adds no legal validity - around 98% of UK name changes are unenrolled.
Can my whole family change names together?
Each person aged 16 or over signs their own deed poll. For children under 16, everyone with parental responsibility must consent. You can order separate deed polls for each family member so that everyone’s records match.
Is this the same process for other faith-based name changes?
The legal mechanism - the deed poll - is the same across faiths, though the traditions differ. If you are interested in another example, see our guide to the legal requirements for an Islamic name change in the UK.
Record your Sikh name change today
Whether you are adopting Singh or Kaur, keeping a family surname alongside it, or removing it, a professionally printed deed poll makes the change official across your passport, licence and bank. Order your adult deed poll from UK Name Change for just £14.49 - same-day dispatch before 3pm, free tracked delivery, and trusted by over 160,000 customers.
