Queen Elizabeth's Last Name: A Comprehensive Guide

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, is known by her title, but what is her actual last name? This article will delve into the fascinating history behind the British royal family's last name and explore the various names used throughout history. This comprehensive guide will cover the origins, meanings, and usage of each name, providing a thorough understanding of the Queen's last name.
1. **Windsor:** A name adopted by the British royal family in 1917, replacing Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which had been deemed too German during World War I. It comes from Windsor Castle, a royal residence in Berkshire, England.
2. **Mountbatten:** The surname of Prince Philip, the Queen's husband. It was a combination of his mother's family name, Battenberg, and his father's family name, Mountbatten.
3. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** The last name of the royal family from 1819 to 1917. It originated from the German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
4. **Hanover:** The last name of the British royal family from 1714 to 1837, originating from the electorate of Hanover in Germany.
5. **Stuart:** The last name of the British royal family from 1603 to 1714, originating from a Scottish clan. It is a variant of Stewart.
6. **Tudor:** The last name of the British royal family from 1485 to 1603, originating from a Welsh family.
7. **York:** The last name of a royal house in England, dating back to the 14th century.
8. **Plantagenet:** The last name of the English royal family from 1154 to 1399, It originated from a sprig of broom plant (plantagenet) that was worn by Geoffrey of Anjou, the father of King Henry II.
9. **Norman:** The name of a people who invaded England in 1066. It is also a last name used by some members of the British royal family.
10. **Anglo-Saxon:** The name of the people who lived in England before the Norman invasion. It is not a last name, but a term used to describe a period of English history.
11. **FitzRoy:** A surname derived from the Norman French phrase "fils du roi," meaning "son of the king." It was used by illegitimate children of English kings.
12. **FitzClarence:** A surname derived from the Norman French phrase "fils du roi Clarence," meaning "son of the king of Clarence." It was used by illegitimate children of English kings.
13. **FitzAlan:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of Alan," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
14. **FitzHerbert:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of Herbert," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
15. **Fitzwilliam:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of William," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
16. **Fitzgerald:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Gerald," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
17. **Fitzmaurice:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Maurice," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
18. **Fitzpatrick:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Patrick," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
19. **Fitzroy:** A surname derived from the Norman French phrase "fils du roi," meaning "son of the king." It was used by illegitimate children of English kings.
20. **FitzClarence:** A surname derived from the Norman French phrase "fils du roi Clarence," meaning "son of the king of Clarence." It was used by illegitimate children of English kings.
21. **FitzAlan:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of Alan," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
22. **FitzHerbert:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of Herbert," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
23. **Fitzwilliam:** A Norman-French surname meaning "son of William," used by a powerful aristocratic family in England.
24. **Fitzgerald:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Gerald," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
25. **Fitzmaurice:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Maurice," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
26. **Fitzpatrick:** An Anglo-Norman surname meaning "son of Patrick," used by a powerful aristocratic family in Ireland.
27. **Bowes-Lyon:** The surname of Queen Elizabeth II's mother, It was a combination of her father's name, Lyon, and her mother's name, Bowes.
28. **Spencer:** The surname of Diana, Princess of Wales.
29. **Windsor-Mountbatten:** A surname that was used for a short time by the Queen's children. It was a combination of Windsor and Mountbatten, to honor both the Queen's family and her husband's family.
30. **Wales:** The name of the region in the United Kingdom where the Prince of Wales resides. It is also a surname used by some members of the British royal family.
31. **Cambridge:** The last name of Prince William and Kate Middleton, derived from their titles.
32. **Sussex:** The last name of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, derived from their titles.
33. **Wessex:** The last name of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, derived from their titles.
34. **York:** The last name of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, derived from their titles.
35. **Gloucester:** The last name of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, derived from their titles.
36. **Kent:** The last name of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, derived from their titles.
37. **Edinburgh:** The last name of Prince Philip before he married Queen Elizabeth II. It was a courtesy title given to him by his grandfather, King George V.
38. **Battenberg:** The surname of Prince Philip's mother's family. It was changed to Mountbatten in 1917, during World War I.
39. **Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg:** The last name of Prince Philip's father's family. It was a long and complicated name that was shortened to Mountbatten in 1917.
40. **Windsor-Mountbatten-Windsor:** The last name used by the Queen's grandchildren, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. It combines the Windsor and Mountbatten families to reflect their lineage.
41. **Anglesey:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
42. **Connaught:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
43. **Fife:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
44. **Strathearn:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
45. **Snowdon:** The surname of David Armstrong-Jones, the son of Princess Margaret. It comes from Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.
46. **Linley:** The surname of David Armstrong-Jones's wife, It comes from his mother's family.
47. **Chatham:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
48. **Abercorn:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
49. **Richmond:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.
50. **Clarence:** A title held by a member of the British royal family. It is also a last name.