Last Name of British Royalty: A Historical Journey

The last name of British royalty is a topic that often sparks curiosity. While the royal family is known by their titles and Christian names, they do have a surname, one that has evolved throughout history. This article will delve into the fascinating history of the last names used by British monarchs and their descendants, exploring their origins and meanings. Let's embark on a journey to discover the surnames that have been associated with the British crown.
1. **Windsor:** This is the official surname used by the current British royal family. It was adopted in 1917 by King George V, during World War I, to distance the family from their German heritage. The name refers to Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British monarch.
2. **Mountbatten:** This surname is associated with the maternal lineage of Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh. It was adopted by his family in 1917, also in response to anti-German sentiment during World War I. The name derives from the German "Battenberg," which translates to "bat mountain."
3. **Saxony-Coburg and Gotha:** This was the last name of the British royal family from 1819 to 1917, reflecting their German heritage. It originated from the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in Germany.
4. **Hanover:** This surname was used by the British monarchs from 1714 to 1837, during the Hanoverian dynasty. It is derived from the German city of Hanover, where the dynasty originated.
5. **Stuart:** This name was used by the British royal family from 1603 to 1714, during the Stuart dynasty. It originated in Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic word "Stewart," meaning "steward."
6. **Tudor:** This surname was used by the British royal family from 1485 to 1603, during the Tudor dynasty. It is thought to be a Welsh surname, possibly derived from the Welsh word "tudur," meaning "descendant."
7. **York:** This surname was used by the House of York, a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487). It is derived from the English city of York, the traditional capital of the House of York.
8. **Lancaster:** This surname was used by the House of Lancaster, another branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, during the Wars of the Roses. It is derived from the English city of Lancaster, the traditional capital of the House of Lancaster.
9. **Plantagenet:** This surname was used by the British royal family from 1154 to 1399, during the Plantagenet dynasty. It is derived from the French phrase "planta genista," referring to a flowering plant that was worn by King Geoffrey of Anjou, the founder of the dynasty.
10. **Norman:** This surname was used by the British royal family from 1066 to 1154, during the Norman dynasty. It refers to the Normans, who conquered England in 1066.
11. **Wessex:** This surname was used by the British royal family during the Anglo-Saxon period, specifically by the kings of Wessex, who eventually united England. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex.
12. **Angles:** This name refers to one of the Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain in the 5th century AD and formed the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
13. **Saxons:** This name refers to another Germanic tribe that migrated to Britain in the 5th century AD and formed the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
14. **Jutes:** This name refers to a third Germanic tribe that migrated to Britain in the 5th century AD and formed the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
15. **Britons:** This name refers to the indigenous people of Britain, who were present before the Roman conquest.
16. **Celt:** This name refers to a group of Indo-European peoples who inhabited parts of Europe, including Britain.
17. **Gaul:** This name refers to the ancient people who inhabited the region of Gaul, which corresponds to modern-day France and parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy.
18. **Battenberg:** This surname was used by Prince Philip's family before they changed it to Mountbatten. It is derived from the German "Battenberg," which translates to "bat mountain."
19. **Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg:** This was the last name of Prince Philip's father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. It is a complex name reflecting the history of his family, which originated in the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg in Germany.
20. **Glücksburg:** This surname is derived from the town of Glücksburg in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
21. **Sonderburg:** This surname is derived from the town of Sonderburg in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
22. **Schleswig-Holstein:** This surname refers to the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein in Germany.
23. **Holstein:** This surname is derived from the duchy of Holstein in Germany.
24. **Schleswig:** This surname is derived from the duchy of Schleswig in Germany.
25. **Greece:** This name refers to the country of Greece, where Prince Philip's father was a prince.
26. **Denmark:** This name refers to the country of Denmark, where Prince Philip's father was also a prince.
27. **Wales:** This name refers to the country of Wales, which was historically ruled by its own princes.
28. **Scotland:** This name refers to the country of Scotland, which has its own royal lineage.
29. **Ireland:** This name refers to the country of Ireland, which also has its own royal lineage.
30. **York and Lancaster:** This is a combined name that represents the two warring houses during the Wars of the Roses.
31. **Bourbon:** This name refers to the French royal family, which has a historical connection to the British royal family through marriage.
32. **Habsburg:** This name refers to the Austrian royal family, which also has a historical connection to the British royal family through marriage.
33. **Orange-Nassau:** This name refers to the Dutch royal family, which has a historical connection to the British royal family through marriage.
34. **Saxe-Coburg:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
35. **Gotha:** This name refers to the town of Gotha in Germany, where a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty originated.
36. **Braganza:** This name refers to the Portuguese royal family, which has a historical connection to the British royal family through marriage.
37. **Württemberg:** This name refers to the German kingdom of Württemberg, which was ruled by the House of Württemberg.
38. **Bavaria:** This name refers to the German kingdom of Bavaria, which was ruled by the House of Wittelsbach.
39. **Thurn and Taxis:** This name refers to a German noble family, which had a historical role as postmasters for the Holy Roman Empire.
40. **Württemberg-Teck:** This name refers to a branch of the House of Württemberg, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
41. **Saxe-Altenburg:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
42. **Saxe-Meiningen:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
43. **Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
44. **Saxe-Hildburghausen:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
45. **Saxe-Lauenburg:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
46. **Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
47. **Saxe-Eisenberg:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
48. **Saxe-Römhild:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
49. **Saxe-Hildburghausen:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.
50. **Saxe-Hildburghausen:** This name refers to a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which was closely linked to the British royal family.