Royal Family Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Surnames of Kings and Queens

Are you fascinated by the history and lineage of royal families? Ever wondered about the last names of kings and queens throughout the ages? This comprehensive guide explores the surnames of various royal families worldwide, offering a fascinating glimpse into their origins and historical significance. From the well-known Windsors to lesser-known European dynasties, discover the unique stories behind these last names and the royal families they represent.
1. **Windsor:** Derived from Windsor Castle, the royal residence in Berkshire, England. Adopted by the British royal family in 1917 as a response to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
2. **Mountbatten:** A German surname originally spelled "Battenberg," meaning "bat mountain." Adopted by the British royal family after the marriage of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
3. **Bourbon:** Originated in the Bourbonnais region of France, named after the medieval castle of Bourbon. The Bourbon dynasty reigned in France, Spain, Naples, and other European kingdoms.
4. **Habsburg:** A German surname derived from the Habsburg castle in Switzerland. The Habsburg dynasty ruled Austria, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and other territories for centuries.
5. **Romanov:** A Russian surname derived from the village of Romanova in Novgorod. The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia for over 300 years until the Russian Revolution in 1917.
6. **Braganza:** A Portuguese surname derived from the Braganza region in northern Portugal. The Braganza dynasty ruled Portugal for over 120 years.
7. **Holstein-Gottorp:** A German surname derived from the Holstein region in northern Germany and the Gottorp Castle in Schleswig. The Holstein-Gottorp dynasty ruled Russia as the House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov for over two centuries.
8. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** A German surname derived from the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in Germany. The Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty ruled several German states and played a significant role in European royal marriages.
9. **Orleans:** A French surname derived from the city of Orleans in France. The Orleans dynasty ruled France as a junior branch of the Bourbon family.
10. **Wittelsbach:** A German surname derived from the Wittelsbach castle in Bavaria. The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled Bavaria, the Palatinate, and other German states.
11. **Hanover:** A German surname derived from the city of Hanover in Germany. The Hanover dynasty ruled Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1901.
12. **Stuart:** A Scottish surname derived from the Stewart family, who were hereditary stewards of Scotland. The Stuart dynasty ruled Scotland, England, and Ireland for centuries.
13. **Valois:** A French surname derived from the Valois region in northern France. The Valois dynasty ruled France from 1328 to 1589.
14. **Plantagenet:** A French surname adopted by the royal family of England during the medieval period. The Plantagenet dynasty ruled England for over 300 years.
15. **Capet:** A French surname derived from the village of Capet in France. The Capetian dynasty ruled France for over 300 years.
16. **Tudor:** A Welsh surname derived from the Tudor family, who were descended from a Welsh prince. The Tudor dynasty ruled England and Wales from 1485 to 1603.
17. **York:** A British surname derived from the city of York in England. The House of York was a powerful branch of the Plantagenet dynasty that fought for the English throne during the Wars of the Roses.
18. **Lancaster:** A British surname derived from the city of Lancaster in England. The House of Lancaster was another powerful branch of the Plantagenet dynasty that fought for the English throne during the Wars of the Roses.
19. **Orange-Nassau:** A Dutch surname derived from the Princely House of Orange-Nassau in the Netherlands. The Orange-Nassau dynasty has ruled the Netherlands for centuries.
20. **Bernadotte:** A French surname adopted by the Swedish royal family in 1818. The Bernadotte dynasty has ruled Sweden since the early 19th century.
21. **Oldenburg:** A German surname derived from the Oldenburg region in northern Germany. The Oldenburg dynasty ruled Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and other Scandinavian kingdoms.
22. **Thurn und Taxis:** A German surname derived from the Thurn und Taxis family, who were originally postal masters of the Holy Roman Empire. The Thurn und Taxis dynasty held the title of Prince of Thurn und Taxis.
23. **Liechtenstein:** A German surname derived from the Liechtenstein region in Austria. The Liechtenstein dynasty has ruled the principality of Liechtenstein since the 17th century.
24. **Hohenzollern:** A German surname derived from the Hohenzollern castle in Swabia. The Hohenzollern dynasty ruled Brandenburg, Prussia, and the German Empire.
25. **Württemberg:** A German surname derived from the Duchy of Württemberg in Germany. The Württemberg dynasty ruled Württemberg for centuries.
26. **Baden:** A German surname derived from the Margraviate of Baden in Germany. The Baden dynasty ruled Baden for centuries.
27. **Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg:** A German surname derived from the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein and Sonderburg in Germany. The Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg dynasty has ruled Denmark since the 19th century.
28. **Bavaria:** A German surname derived from the Duchy of Bavaria in Germany. The Bavarian royal family has a long history of ruling Bavaria.
29. **Brunswick:** A German surname derived from the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany. The Brunswick dynasty ruled Brunswick for centuries.
30. **Anjou:** A French surname derived from the County of Anjou in France. The House of Anjou played a significant role in French and English history.
31. **Lorraine:** A French surname derived from the Duchy of Lorraine in France. The House of Lorraine has played a role in French, Austrian, and Italian history.
32. **Savoy:** An Italian surname derived from the House of Savoy, a dynasty that ruled Piedmont and Sardinia. The Savoy dynasty also played a significant role in Italian unification.
33. **Este:** An Italian surname derived from the city of Este in Italy. The House of Este ruled Ferrara, Modena, and other Italian territories for centuries.
34. **Gonzaga:** An Italian surname derived from the Gonzaga family, who were originally rulers of Mantua. The Gonzaga dynasty also held territories in other parts of Italy.
35. **Sforza:** An Italian surname derived from the Sforza family, who were originally condottieri (military leaders) in Italy. The Sforza dynasty ruled Milan for several decades.
36. **Borgia:** An Italian surname derived from the Borgia family, who were prominent figures in the Italian Renaissance. The Borgia family held considerable influence in the Papal States.
37. **Medici:** An Italian surname derived from the Medici family, who were bankers and patrons of the arts in Florence. The Medici family held considerable influence in Florence and played a key role in the Italian Renaissance.
38. **D'Anjou:** A French surname derived from the County of Anjou in France. The House of Anjou played a significant role in French and English history.
39. **D'Orléans:** A French surname derived from the city of Orleans in France. The Orleans dynasty ruled France as a junior branch of the Bourbon family.
40. **D'Este:** An Italian surname derived from the city of Este in Italy. The House of Este ruled Ferrara, Modena, and other Italian territories for centuries.
41. **De Bourbon:** A French surname derived from the Bourbonnais region of France. The Bourbon dynasty reigned in France, Spain, Naples, and other European kingdoms.
42. **De Valois:** A French surname derived from the Valois region in northern France. The Valois dynasty ruled France from 1328 to 1589.
43. **De Bourbon-Parma:** A French surname derived from the Bourbonnais region of France and the city of Parma in Italy. The Bourbon-Parma dynasty ruled Parma and other Italian states.
44. **De Bourbon-Sicilies:** A French surname derived from the Bourbonnais region of France and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The Bourbon-Sicilies dynasty ruled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies for centuries.
45. **De Habsburg-Lorraine:** A German surname derived from the Habsburg castle in Switzerland and the Duchy of Lorraine in France. The Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty ruled Austria and other territories for centuries.
46. **De Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** A German surname derived from the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in Germany. The Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty ruled several German states and played a significant role in European royal marriages.
47. **De Wittelsbach:** A German surname derived from the Wittelsbach castle in Bavaria. The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled Bavaria, the Palatinate, and other German states.
48. **De Holstein-Gottorp:** A German surname derived from the Holstein region in northern Germany and the Gottorp Castle in Schleswig. The Holstein-Gottorp dynasty ruled Russia as the House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov for over two centuries.
49. **De Hohenzollern:** A German surname derived from the Hohenzollern castle in Swabia. The Hohenzollern dynasty ruled Brandenburg, Prussia, and the German Empire.
50. **De Oldenburg:** A German surname derived from the Oldenburg region in northern Germany. The Oldenburg dynasty ruled Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and other Scandinavian kingdoms.