What is the Royals' Last Name: Understanding British Royalty

This article delves into the intriguing question of what the royal family's last name is. While you might think they have a unique surname, the reality is more nuanced. Learn about the historical origins of the royal lineage, the current practices for naming royal family members, and the various surnames that have been used throughout history. Let's explore the intricacies of the British royal family's naming traditions.
1. **Windsor:** This surname was adopted in 1917 by King George V during World War I, replacing the German name Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It reflects the royal family's connection to Windsor Castle, a prominent royal residence.
2. **Mountbatten-Windsor:** This surname was introduced in 1960 by Queen Elizabeth II for her children and their descendants. It combines the Queen's family name, Windsor, with the surname of her husband, Prince Philip, Mountbatten.
3. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** This was the royal family's surname from 1819 to 1917. It originates from the German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the birthplaces of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband.
4. **Wettin:** This is the ancestral surname of the royal family, tracing back to the medieval Wettin dynasty. It was replaced by Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1819.
5. **Stuart:** This surname belonged to the royal family of Scotland from 1371 to 1714, and later ruled England and Ireland. It's connected to the Scottish House of Stuart.
6. **Tudor:** This surname was adopted by King Henry VII in 1485 after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. It's linked to the House of Tudor, who reigned from 1485 to 1603.
7. **Plantagenet:** This surname is associated with the royal family of England from 1154 to 1485. It represents the House of Plantagenet, a powerful dynasty in medieval English history.
8. **Normandy:** This name represents the lineage of William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. It signifies the Norman conquest and the establishment of a new royal line.
9. **Anglesey:** This is a surname associated with the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes that settled in England during the 5th century. It reflects a period of English history marked by Anglo-Saxon rule.
10. **Saxon:** This surname is linked to the Saxons, another Germanic tribe that settled in England. It represents the influence of Saxon culture and governance in ancient England.
11. **Jutish:** This surname refers to the Jutes, a third Germanic tribe that settled in England alongside the Angles and Saxons. It highlights the diversity of early English society and its origins.
12. **Lancaster:** This surname is associated with the House of Lancaster, a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty. It signifies a period of English history marked by dynastic struggles and wars of the Roses.
13. **York:** This surname represents the House of York, another branch of the Plantagenet dynasty. It's linked to the Wars of the Roses, a tumultuous period of English history.
14. **York and Lancaster:** This combined surname reflects the union of the Houses of York and Lancaster under King Henry VII, who ended the Wars of the Roses.
15. **House of Hanover:** This refers to the Hanoverian dynasty, which ruled Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1901. It signifies a period of British history marked by the rise of industrialization and expansion.
16. **House of Orange:** This is the name of a European royal dynasty with origins in the Netherlands. It's associated with William of Orange, who became King William III of England.
17. **House of Brunswick:** This is another name for the Hanoverian dynasty, as the House of Hanover was a branch of the House of Brunswick. It signifies the lineage of the Hanoverian kings and queens of Great Britain.
18. **House of Guelph:** This is a term often used interchangeably with the House of Hanover. It reflects the lineage of the Hanoverian dynasty, which descended from the House of Guelph.
19. **Bourbon:** This surname represents a prominent European royal family. It's associated with the French monarchy and other royal houses across Europe.
20. **Valois:** This surname is linked to the House of Valois, which ruled France from 1328 to 1589. It signifies a period of French history marked by political instability and cultural flourishing.
21. **Capet:** This surname represents the House of Capet, the royal dynasty of France from 987 to 1328. It's connected to the early history of the French monarchy and its establishment.
22. **Hapsburg:** This surname represents the House of Hapsburg, a powerful dynasty in Europe, particularly in Austria and Spain. It's associated with a long period of European history marked by political dominance and cultural influence.
23. **Lorraine:** This surname is linked to the Duchy of Lorraine, a historical region in northeastern France. It signifies a period of regional history and political independence.
24. **Bavaria:** This surname refers to the region of Bavaria in Germany. It's associated with the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled Bavaria for many centuries.
25. **Holstein-Gottorp:** This surname represents a branch of the Oldenburg dynasty, which ruled Denmark and Norway. It's linked to a period of Scandinavian history marked by territorial expansion and cultural development.
26. **Oldenburg:** This surname is associated with the House of Oldenburg, a long-standing royal family in Denmark and Norway. It reflects a period of Scandinavian history marked by political stability and cultural achievements.
27. **Schleswig-Holstein:** This surname represents a region in northern Germany. It's linked to the House of Schleswig-Holstein, a royal family that ruled Denmark and Norway at various points in history.
28. **Romanov:** This surname represents the Russian Imperial dynasty, which ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917. It signifies a period of Russian history marked by expansion, modernization, and political upheaval.
29. **Holstein:** This surname is associated with the Duchy of Holstein, a historical region in northern Germany. It's linked to a period of regional history and political independence.
30. **Coburg:** This surname is linked to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, a historical region in Germany. It's associated with the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which ruled several European states, including the United Kingdom.
31. **Gotha:** This surname is linked to the Duchy of Gotha, another historical region in Germany. It's associated with the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty, which ruled several European states, including the United Kingdom.
32. **Saxe-Weimar:** This surname represents a branch of the Wettin dynasty, which ruled the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. It's linked to a period of German history marked by cultural and political developments.
33. **Saxe-Altenburg:** This surname is linked to the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, a historical region in Germany. It's associated with a branch of the Wettin dynasty.
34. **Saxe-Meiningen:** This surname represents the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, another historical region in Germany. It's linked to a branch of the Wettin dynasty.
35. **Saxe-Hildburghausen:** This surname is associated with the Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a historical region in Germany. It's linked to a branch of the Wettin dynasty.
36. **Saxe-Eisenach:** This surname represents the Duchy of Saxe-Eisenach, another historical region in Germany. It's linked to a branch of the Wettin dynasty.
37. **Saxe-Lauenburg:** This surname is linked to the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, a historical region in Germany. It's associated with a branch of the Wettin dynasty.
38. **Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld:** This surname represents a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty. It's linked to a period of German history marked by territorial changes and political alliances.
39. **Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen:** This surname represents a branch of the Saxe-Meiningen dynasty. It's linked to a period of German history marked by territorial changes and political alliances.
40. **Saxe-Altenburg-Hildburghausen:** This surname represents a branch of the Saxe-Altenburg dynasty. It's linked to a period of German history marked by territorial changes and political alliances.