Prince Harry's Last Name: A Detailed Exploration of the Royal Family's Lineage

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is a prominent figure in the British royal family. While his official title is "His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales," he is often referred to simply as "Prince Harry." This article delves into the history of the royal family's last names, exploring the different surnames used by Prince Harry and his ancestors throughout the centuries. We will examine the origins and meanings of these names, providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex lineage of the royal family.
1. **Mountbatten-Windsor:** The official last name adopted by the royal family in 1960. "Mountbatten" reflects the surname of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was a member of the Battenberg family. "Windsor" is the royal house's name, derived from Windsor Castle. This name reflects a merger of the British and German royal families.
2. **Windsor:** The royal house name adopted by King George V in 1917, replacing the German "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha." "Windsor" is derived from Windsor Castle, a prominent royal residence. This change marked a shift from the German monarchy to a more British identity.
3. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** The royal house name used by the British royal family from 1815 to 1917. It is a German name referring to two duchies, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, where the family originated. This name highlights the close ties between the British and German royal families during that period.
4. **Hanover:** The royal house name of the British monarchs from 1714 to 1901. "Hanover" originates from the German electorate of Hanover, which the British monarchs inherited. This name signifies the period when the British monarchy was closely linked to the German ruling class.
5. **Stuart:** The royal house name of the British monarchs from 1603 to 1714. "Stuart" originated from Scotland and is a branch of the Fitzalan family. This name signifies the period of the Scottish monarchy's union with the English throne.
6. **Tudor:** The royal house name of the British monarchs from 1485 to 1603. "Tudor" was a Welsh family name adopted by the founder of the dynasty, Henry VII. This name represents a period of significant cultural and political changes in England.
7. **York:** A house name referring to the lineage of the Yorkist branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, which competed with the Lancastrian branch for the English throne during the Wars of the Roses. "York" refers to the city of York, where the dynasty's power base was located.
8. **Lancaster:** A house name referring to the lineage of the Lancastrian branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, which competed with the Yorkist branch for the English throne during the Wars of the Roses. "Lancaster" refers to the city of Lancaster, where the dynasty's power base was located.
9. **Plantagenet:** A royal house name of the English monarchs from 1154 to 1485. "Plantagenet" is believed to derive from the name of a plant, likely a broom, which was worn by Geoffrey of Anjou, the dynasty's founder, as a symbol. This name signifies a period of great change and expansion for England.
10. **Normandy:** A house name referring to the descendants of William the Conqueror, the Norman Duke who invaded England in 1066. "Normandy" is derived from the region in France where William's lineage originated. This name represents the Norman conquest of England and the shift in power from the Anglo-Saxons to the Normans.
11. **Wessex:** The name of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom ruled by the descendants of Alfred the Great. "Wessex" is derived from the region in southwestern England where the kingdom was located. This name signifies the period of Anglo-Saxon dominance in England.
12. **Merovingian:** A dynasty of Frankish kings who ruled from the 5th to the 8th centuries. This name signifies a period of great change and consolidation in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
13. **Angles:** One of the Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain and established kingdoms there. "Angles" is derived from the name of the tribe, which is believed to have originated in the region of Angeln in northern Germany. This name signifies the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period in England.
14. **Saxons:** One of the Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain and established kingdoms there. "Saxons" is derived from the name of the tribe, which is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony in northern Germany. This name signifies the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period in England.
15. **Jutes:** One of the Germanic tribes who migrated to Britain and established kingdoms there. "Jutes" is derived from the name of the tribe, which is believed to have originated in the region of Jutland in Denmark. This name signifies the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period in England.
16. **Battenberg:** The surname of Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg. This name originated from the German principality of Battenberg, where the family's ancestral home was located. This name signifies the family's German heritage and its connection to the European nobility.
17. **Mountbatten:** The anglicized form of "Battenberg," which was adopted by the Battenberg family in 1917 during World War I. This change reflected a shift away from the German monarchy and towards a more British identity.
18. **Spencer:** The surname of Diana, Princess of Wales, through her maternal lineage. "Spencer" is a family name of English origin, possibly derived from the place name "Spenser," meaning "steward's house." This name signifies the family's connection to the English aristocracy and its long history.
19. **Shaw:** The surname of Diana, Princess of Wales, through her paternal lineage. "Shaw" is a family name of English origin, derived from the place name "shaw," meaning "small wood." This name signifies the family's connection to the English countryside and its rural heritage.
20. **French:** The surname of Diana, Princess of Wales, through her paternal lineage. "French" is a surname of English origin, meaning "from France." This name signifies the family's connection to the French aristocracy and its history.
21. **Wales:** The surname of Prince Harry's father, Charles, Prince of Wales. "Wales" is the name of a principality in Great Britain, originally ruled by its own kings. This name signifies the historic connection of the Prince of Wales to this region and its cultural identity.
22. **Bourbon:** A royal family of France, who ruled the country from 1589 to 1792. This name signifies the family's long history of ruling France and its influence on European history.
23. **Capet:** A dynasty of French monarchs who ruled the country from 987 to 1328. This name signifies the family's long history of ruling France and its influence on European history.
24. **Valois:** A dynasty of French monarchs who ruled the country from 1328 to 1589. This name signifies the family's long history of ruling France and its influence on European history.
25. **Habsburg:** A European royal family that ruled Austria, Spain, and parts of Germany. This name signifies the family's vast empire and influence on European history.
26. **Lorraine:** A historic region in northeastern France. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
27. **Bavaria:** A region in southern Germany. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
28. **Württemberg:** A historical duchy in southwestern Germany. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
29. **Holstein-Gottorp:** A duchy in northern Germany. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
30. **Schleswig:** A region in northern Germany. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
31. **Denmark:** A country in Scandinavia. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
32. **Sweden:** A country in Scandinavia. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
33. **Norway:** A country in Scandinavia. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
34. **Scotland:** A country in Great Britain. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on British history.
35. **Ireland:** A country in Great Britain. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on British history.
36. **England:** A country in Great Britain. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on British history.
37. **France:** A country in Western Europe. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
38. **Germany:** A country in Central Europe. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
39. **Spain:** A country in Southwestern Europe. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.
40. **Italy:** A country in Southern Europe. This name signifies the family's connection to this region and its influence on European history.