Queen Elizabeth Last Name: A Comprehensive Guide

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, is known by her first name and title, but what about her last name? This article will explore the complex history behind Queen Elizabeth II's last name, delving into the various surnames she held throughout her life. We'll uncover the meanings behind these names, tracing their roots and examining their significance within the context of the British monarchy.
1. **Windsor:** This is the official last name of the British royal family, adopted in 1917 by King George V to distance the family from their German roots during World War I. **Meaning:** "The windsor," referring to Windsor Castle, a royal residence.
2. **Mountbatten:** The surname of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband. He was a member of the Greek and Danish royal families and descended from a German noble family. **Meaning:** The name is derived from the German word "Mönch," meaning "monk," and "Batten," referring to a type of batten (strip of wood) used in construction.
3. **Bowes-Lyon:** The maiden name of Queen Elizabeth II's mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. **Meaning:** "Bowes" is a place name derived from the Old English word "boga," meaning "bow," while "Lyon" is derived from the Latin word "leo," meaning "lion."
4. **Tudor:** The last name of the royal dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Tudur," meaning "David."
5. **Stuart:** The last name of the royal dynasty that ruled Scotland from 1371 to 1714 and England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1603 to 1714. **Meaning:** Derived from the place name "Stewart," in Fife, Scotland.
6. **York:** The name of a city in England, but also a title used by various royal families throughout history. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Jórvík," meaning "settlement on the river Ouse."
7. **Lancaster:** A city in England and a title used by various royal families throughout history. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Langcaster," meaning "long camp."
8. **Plantagenet:** The last name of the royal dynasty that ruled England from 1154 to 1485. **Meaning:** The name is derived from the French word "planta genista," referring to the broom plant.
9. **Norman:** Refers to the people of Normandy, a region in France. The Normans invaded England in 1066. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Norðmanna," meaning "northmen."
10. **Saxon:** Refers to the Germanic people who migrated to Britain in the 5th century AD. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Seaxe," meaning "sword."
11. **Angles:** Refers to one of the Germanic tribes who settled in Britain in the 5th century AD. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Angli," meaning "people from Angeln."
12. **Jutes:** Refers to one of the Germanic tribes who settled in Britain in the 5th century AD. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Geatas," meaning "people from Jutland."
13. **Roman:** Refers to the people of ancient Rome, who ruled Britain for over 400 years. **Meaning:** Derived from the Latin word "Romanus," meaning "Roman."
14. **Celtic:** Refers to the people who inhabited Britain before the Romans. **Meaning:** Derived from the Greek word "Keltoi," meaning "Gauls."
15. **Iberian:** Refers to the people who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) before the Romans. **Meaning:** Derived from the Greek word "Iberia," referring to the Iberian Peninsula.
16. **Briton:** Refers to the people who inhabited Britain before the Romans. **Meaning:** Derived from the Latin word "Britannus," meaning "Briton."
17. **Pictish:** Refers to a people who lived in northern Scotland before the Romans. **Meaning:** Derived from the Latin word "Picti," meaning "painted people."
18. **Gaelic:** Refers to the Celtic language spoken in Ireland and Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Greek word "Gaul," referring to the Gauls.
19. **Scottish:** Refers to the people of Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Scottisc," meaning "Scottish."
20. **Irish:** Refers to the people of Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Ír," meaning "Irish."
21. **Welsh:** Refers to the people of Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Wealas," meaning "foreigners."
22. **Cornish:** Refers to the people of Cornwall, a region in southwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Cornisc," meaning "Cornish."
23. **Manx:** Refers to the people of the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Man," meaning "man."
24. **Cumberland:** Refers to a county in northwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Cumburland," meaning "valley land."
25. **Westmorland:** Refers to a county in northwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Westmoringland," meaning "western moorland."
26. **Northumberland:** Refers to a county in northeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Norþhymbreland," meaning "land of the Northumbrians."
27. **Durham:** Refers to a county in northeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Dūrum," meaning "settlement on the river Wear."
28. **Yorkshire:** Refers to a county in northeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Eoforwīc," meaning "boar settlement."
29. **Lancashire:** Refers to a county in northwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Lancastre," meaning "long camp."
30. **Cheshire:** Refers to a county in northwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Cēsterscīr," meaning "shire of the fortress."
31. **Shropshire:** Refers to a county in west central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Scrobbesbyrig," meaning "settlement by the scrub."
32. **Staffordshire:** Refers to a county in west central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Stæffordscīr," meaning "shire of Stafford."
33. **Warwickshire:** Refers to a county in west central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Wærwic," meaning "fort on the river Avon."
34. **Worcestershire:** Refers to a county in west central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Wīrceasterscīr," meaning "shire of Worcester."
35. **Gloucestershire:** Refers to a county in southwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Gloucestrascīr," meaning "shire of Gloucester."
36. **Somerset:** Refers to a county in southwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Somerset," meaning "summer settlement."
37. **Devon:** Refers to a county in southwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Deofolscīr," meaning "shire of the devil."
38. **Cornwall:** Refers to a county in southwest England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Cornwealas," meaning "Cornish people."
39. **Kent:** Refers to a county in southeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Cantwara," meaning "people of Kent."
40. **Sussex:** Refers to a county in southeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Suþsēaxe," meaning "south Saxons."
41. **Surrey:** Refers to a county in southeast England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Sūþrīg," meaning "south region."
42. **Hampshire:** Refers to a county in southern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Hamtūnscīr," meaning "shire of Hamtun."
43. **Berkshire:** Refers to a county in southern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Berrocscire," meaning "shire of the beech trees."
44. **Oxfordshire:** Refers to a county in southern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Oxenaford," meaning "ox ford."
45. **Buckinghamshire:** Refers to a county in southern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Būcingahamscīr," meaning "shire of Buckingham."
46. **Bedfordshire:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Bedfordshire," meaning "shire of Bedford."
47. **Hertfordshire:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Herefordshire," meaning "shire of Hereford."
48. **Essex:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Eastsexe," meaning "east Saxons."
49. **Suffolk:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Suðfōlca," meaning "south folk."
50. **Norfolk:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Norðfōlca," meaning "north folk."
51. **Lincolnshire:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Lindesig," meaning "island of lindens."
52. **Nottinghamshire:** Refers to a county in central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Snotingaham," meaning "settlement of Snotinga."
53. **Derbyshire:** Refers to a county in central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Deoraby," meaning "settlement of deer."
54. **Leicestershire:** Refers to a county in central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Leicestershire," meaning "shire of Leicester."
55. **Rutland:** Refers to a county in central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Rūtlond," meaning "ruddy land."
56. **Cambridgeshire:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Grantebrycgescīr," meaning "shire of Grantebridge."
57. **Huntingdonshire:** Refers to a county in eastern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Huntandūnscīr," meaning "shire of Huntingdon."
58. **Northamptonshire:** Refers to a county in central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Norþamtūnscīr," meaning "shire of Northampton."
59. **Herefordshire:** Refers to a county in west central England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Herefordshire," meaning "shire of Hereford."
60. **Monmouthshire:** Refers to a county in southeast Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Mynwy," meaning "river Wye."
61. **Brecknockshire:** Refers to a county in southeast Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Brycheiniog," meaning "land of Brycheiniog."
62. **Radnorshire:** Refers to a county in southeast Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Rhyd-y-groes," meaning "ford of the cross."
63. **Carmarthenshire:** Refers to a county in southwest Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Caerfyrddin," meaning "fortress of Myrddin."
64. **Pembrokeshire:** Refers to a county in southwest Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Penfro," meaning "headland."
65. **Cardiganshire:** Refers to a county in west Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Ceredigion," meaning "land of Ceredig."
66. **Merionethshire:** Refers to a county in northwest Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Meirionydd," meaning "land of Meirion."
67. **Montgomeryshire:** Refers to a county in mid-Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Maldwyn," meaning "land of Maldwyn."
68. **Denbighshire:** Refers to a county in northeast Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Dinbych," meaning "fortress."
69. **Flintshire:** Refers to a county in northeast Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Fflintshire," meaning "land of the flints."
70. **Anglesey:** Refers to an island off the coast of northwest Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Anglesea," meaning "island of the Angles."
71. **Caernarvonshire:** Refers to a county in northwest Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Caernarfon," meaning "fortress on the river Seiont."
72. **Isle of Wight:** Refers to an island off the coast of southern England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Wiht," meaning "island."
73. **Channel Islands:** Refers to a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France. **Meaning:** Derived from the Latin word "insula," meaning "island."
74. **Man:** Refers to the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Man," meaning "man."
75. **Shetland Islands:** Refers to a group of islands off the coast of Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Hjaltland," meaning "land of the high cliffs."
76. **Orkney Islands:** Refers to a group of islands off the coast of Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old Norse word "Orkneyjar," meaning "islands of the seals."
77. **Hebrides:** Refers to a group of islands off the coast of Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Innse Gall," meaning "islands of the foreigners."
78. **Aberdeen:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Aberdhon," meaning "mouth of the river Don."
79. **Edinburgh:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dun Eideann," meaning "fort of Eideann."
80. **Glasgow:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Glas Choille," meaning "green wood."
81. **Dundee:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dùn Dè," meaning "fort on the Tay."
82. **Stirling:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Srath Eireann," meaning "valley of Ireland."
83. **Perth:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Perth," meaning "place of the pears."
84. **Inverness:** Refers to a city in Scotland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Inbhir Nis," meaning "mouth of the river Ness."
85. **Belfast:** Refers to a city in Northern Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Béal Feirste," meaning "mouth of the sand."
86. **Londonderry:** Refers to a city in Northern Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Doire Cholm Cille," meaning "oak grove of Colm Cille."
87. **Armagh:** Refers to a city in Northern Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ard Mhacha," meaning "high plain."
88. **Dublin:** Refers to a city in Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dubhlinn," meaning "black pool."
89. **Cork:** Refers to a city in Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Corcaigh," meaning "swamp."
90. **Galway:** Refers to a city in Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Gaillimh," meaning "land of the Gaels."
91. **Limerick:** Refers to a city in Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Luimneach," meaning "elm tree."
92. **Waterford:** Refers to a city in Ireland. **Meaning:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Baile Átha Cliath," meaning "town of the ford of the hurdles."
93. **Cardiff:** Refers to a city in Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Caerdydd," meaning "fortress on the Taff."
94. **Swansea:** Refers to a city in Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Abertawe," meaning "mouth of the river Tawe."
95. **Bangor:** Refers to a city in Wales. **Meaning:** Derived from the Welsh word "Bangor," meaning "monastery."
96. **Liverpool:** Refers to a city in England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Liferpul," meaning "pool of the river Liver."
97. **Manchester:** Refers to a city in England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Mancunium," meaning "settlement of the Mancunii."
98. **Birmingham:** Refers to a city in England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Beormingahām," meaning "settlement of Beorming."
99. **Leeds:** Refers to a city in England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Lēdes," meaning "meadow."
100. **Sheffield:** Refers to a city in England. **Meaning:** Derived from the Old English word "Sceafeld," meaning "sheep field."