Royals' Last Names: A Guide to the Surnames of Europe's Nobility

Are you fascinated by the history and lineage of Europe's royal families? Delving into the last names of these noble families can unveil fascinating insights into their origins, power dynamics, and the complex tapestry of European history. This comprehensive list explores the diverse surnames adopted by royal families across the continent, shedding light on the stories behind these names and their enduring significance.
1. **Windsor:** Meaning "windy hill" or "winding hill" in Old English. Adopted by the British royal family in 1917, replacing the German "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
2. **Mountbatten:** Originally "Battenberg," a German name meaning "mountain fortress." Adopted by the British royal family in 1917 as a more British-sounding alternative.
3. **Hanover:** A city and region in Germany, also the name of a German royal dynasty that ruled Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1901.
4. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** A German ducal family, historically connected to the British royal family.
5. **Bourbon:** A French royal family with roots in the region of Bourbonnais, France. The name likely derives from a local castle.
6. **Orléans:** A French royal family named after the city of Orléans, where they held their ancestral estates.
7. **Valois:** A French royal family originating in the Valois region, known for their rivalry with the Bourbons.
8. **Capet:** A French royal family, named after Hugh Capet, the first Capetian King of France.
9. **Habsburg:** A powerful European dynasty originating in the Habsburg region of Switzerland. The name derives from a castle built around the 11th century.
10. **Lorraine:** A historical region in eastern France, named after the "Lor" river, a tributary of the Moselle.
11. **Bavaria:** A region in southern Germany, also the name of a royal dynasty that ruled over Bavaria.
12. **Wittelsbach:** A German noble family that ruled over Bavaria and the Palatinate. The name is derived from the town of Wittelsbach in Bavaria.
13. **Hohenzollern:** A German royal family that ruled over Prussia and the German Empire. The name derives from the Hohenzollern Castle in Swabia.
14. **Romanov:** A Russian royal family, named after their ancestral village in Russia. Their reign lasted for over 300 years, ending with the Russian Revolution in 1917.
15. **Holstein-Gottorp:** A German ducal family, closely related to the Romanov dynasty.
16. **Württemberg:** A region in southwest Germany, also the name of a royal dynasty that ruled over Württemberg.
17. **Thurn und Taxis:** A German noble family, known for their postal service, established in the 15th century.
18. **Braganza:** A Portuguese royal family, named after their ancestral castle in Portugal.
19. **Aviz:** A Portuguese royal family, named after the Aviz Monastery in Portugal.
20. **Borbon-Parma:** A branch of the Bourbon family, ruling over Parma and Piacenza in Italy.
21. **Savoia:** An Italian royal family, historically ruling over the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.
22. **Este:** An Italian noble family, ruling over various Italian territories.
23. **Gonzaga:** An Italian noble family, ruling over Mantua and other Italian regions.
24. **Medici:** A powerful Italian family, known for their wealth and influence during the Renaissance.
25. **Orsini:** An Italian noble family, historically rivals of the Colonna family.
26. **Colonna:** An Italian noble family, historically rivals of the Orsini family.
27. **Borghese:** An Italian noble family, known for their patronage of the arts.
28. **Barberini:** An Italian noble family, known for their patronage of the arts and their role in the Papal court.
29. **Farnese:** An Italian noble family, known for their patronage of the arts and their role in the Papal court.
30. **Chigi:** An Italian noble family, known for their banking activities and their role in the Papal court.
31. **Albrechtsberg:** A German noble family, originating from the Albrechtsberg Castle in Austria.
32. **Anhalt:** A German ducal family, ruling over the principality of Anhalt.
33. **Baden:** A German princely family, ruling over the Margraviate of Baden.
34. **Brunswick:** A German ducal family, ruling over the Duchy of Brunswick.
35. **Lippe:** A German princely family, ruling over the Principality of Lippe.
36. **Nassau:** A German noble family, ruling over various territories in Germany and the Netherlands.
37. **Orange-Nassau:** A Dutch royal family, a branch of the Nassau family.
38. **Schaumburg-Lippe:** A German princely family, ruling over the County of Schaumburg-Lippe.
39. **Waldeck and Pyrmont:** A German princely family, ruling over the Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont.
40. **Hesse:** A German landgraviate, ruled by the House of Hesse.
41. **Thuringia:** A German region, historically ruled by various dynasties including the Wettin family.
42. **Oldenburg:** A German ducal family, ruling over the Duchy of Oldenburg.
43. **Mecklenburg:** A German ducal family, ruling over the Duchy of Mecklenburg.
44. **Schleswig-Holstein:** A German ducal family, ruling over the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein.
45. **Württemberg-Teck:** A German princely family, connected to the British royal family through Princess Mary of Teck, wife of King George V.
46. **Plantagenet:** A royal house that ruled England from 1154 to 1485, descended from Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou.
47. **York:** A British royal house, descended from the Duke of York, a member of the Plantagenet family.
48. **Lancaster:** A British royal house, descended from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, a member of the Plantagenet family.
49. **Tudor:** A royal house that ruled England and Wales from 1485 to 1603, descended from Owen Tudor, a Welshman who married Catherine of Valois, the widow of King Henry V.
50. **Stuart:** A royal house that ruled Scotland, England, and Ireland from 1603 to 1714, descended from Robert II, King of Scots.
51. **House of Orange:** A Dutch royal house, closely associated with the Netherlands, originating from the Princely House of Orange-Nassau.
52. **Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov:** A branch of the Holstein-Gottorp family, connected to the Romanov dynasty of Russia.
53. **Glucksburg:** A Danish royal family, historically ruling over Denmark and Norway.
54. **Bernadotte:** A Swedish royal house, established by Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a French Marshal of Napoleon, who was elected King of Sweden in 1818.
55. **House of Bonapart:** A French imperial family, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, who ruled France from 1804 to 1814.
56. **House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg:** A branch of the Schleswig-Holstein family, historically connected to the Danish royal family.
57. **Wettin:** A German noble family, historically ruling over various German territories including Saxony, Thuringia, and Meissen.
58. **House of Oldenburg-Gottorp:** A branch of the Oldenburg family, connected to the royal families of Denmark, Norway, and Russia.
59. **House of Liechtenstein:** A princely family that ruled the Principality of Liechtenstein.
60. **House of Grimaldi:** The ruling family of the Principality of Monaco, historically connected to the Genoese Republic.