England's Royal Family Last Name: The History of the Windsors

Are you curious about the last name of England's royal family? The history of the Windsors is fascinating, tracing back to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This article delves into the origins of the name Windsor and explores its significance in British history. Let's explore the lineage of the British monarchy and understand how the Windsors came to be.
1. **Windsor:** Derived from the town of Windsor in Berkshire, England, where Windsor Castle is located. It has been used as a royal surname since 1917, replacing Saxe-Coburg and Gotha due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
2. **Mountbatten:** The surname of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the maternal family name of Prince Charles. It originates from the German "Battenberg", meaning "bat mountain" and was anglicized to Mountbatten during World War I.
3. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** The former royal house of England from 1837 to 1917. The name reflects its origins in the German states of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
4. **Hanover:** The dynasty that ruled Great Britain from 1714 to 1901. Its roots are in the German principality of Hanover, and it was known for its Protestant faith and its role in the development of the British Empire.
5. **Stuart:** The royal house of Scotland from 1371 to 1714 and later of England and Ireland from 1603 to 1714. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Stiùbhart," meaning "steward."
6. **Tudor:** The royal house of England and Wales from 1485 to 1603. The name is thought to have originated from the Welsh word "tudur," meaning "founder."
7. **York:** The house of York, one of the two main claimants to the English throne during the Wars of the Roses. The name is derived from the city of York in England.
8. **Lancaster:** The house of Lancaster, another claimant to the English throne during the Wars of the Roses. The name is derived from the town of Lancaster in England.
9. **Plantagenet:** The royal house of England from 1154 to 1399. The name is derived from the French "plante genêt," meaning "plant of broom," which is said to have been worn by King Geoffrey of Anjou.
10. **Norman:** The dynasty that ruled England from 1066 to 1154. The name comes from the region of Normandy in France, which was conquered by the Vikings in the 9th century.
11. **Wessex:** The kingdom of Wessex was the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England. It ruled from 825 to 1066, and the name is derived from the region of Wessex in southwest England.
12. **Mercia:** A powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom in England from the 7th to 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "myrc," meaning "boundary."
13. **Northumbria:** An Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northern England from the 6th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "norþ," meaning "north," and "humbran," meaning "Humber."
14. **East Anglia:** An Anglo-Saxon kingdom in eastern England from the 6th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "east" and "angl," meaning "angle."
15. **Kent:** An Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southeastern England from the 5th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "Cantware," meaning "people of Kent."
16. **Essex:** An Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southeastern England from the 6th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "east" and "seax," meaning "Saxon."
17. **Sussex:** An Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southern England from the 5th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "south" and "seax," meaning "Saxon."
18. **Wessex:** A powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom in England from the 8th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English "west" and "seax," meaning "Saxon."
19. **Anglesey:** An island off the coast of Wales. It was an important center of Celtic culture and was ruled by the Britons before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons.
20. **Gwynedd:** A kingdom in north Wales from the 5th to the 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "gwynedd," meaning "white."
21. **Powys:** A kingdom in central Wales from the 5th to the 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "powys," meaning "land of the river."
22. **Deheubarth:** A kingdom in southwest Wales from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "deheu," meaning "south," and "barth," meaning "land."
23. **Ceredigion:** A kingdom in west Wales from the 5th to the 12th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "ceredig," meaning "son of Ceredig."
24. **Dyfed:** A kingdom in southwest Wales from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "Dyfed," meaning "the land of the river Dyfed."
25. **Gwent:** A kingdom in southeast Wales from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "gwent," meaning "white."
26. **Morgannwg:** A kingdom in south Wales from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Welsh "morgan," meaning "sea-born."
27. **Strathclyde:** A kingdom in southwest Scotland from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "srath," meaning "valley," and "clyde," meaning "river Clyde."
28. **Dalriada:** A kingdom in western Scotland from the 6th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "dál," meaning "portion," and "ríada," meaning "descendant of Riada."
29. **Picts:** A people who lived in northern Britain from the 4th to the 9th centuries. The name is derived from the Latin "picti," meaning "painted."
30. **Gaels:** A people who lived in Ireland and Scotland. The name is derived from the Irish word "Gael," meaning "stranger."
31. **Bretons:** A people who lived in Brittany, France. They are descended from the Britons, who were driven out of Britain by the Anglo-Saxons.
32. **Celts:** A group of people who lived in Europe during the Iron Age. They are known for their distinctive culture, which includes language, religion, and art.
33. **Romans:** A people who lived in ancient Italy. They conquered Britain in 43 AD and ruled it for over 400 years.
34. **Anglo-Saxons:** A group of Germanic tribes who invaded and conquered Britain in the 5th century AD. They established a number of kingdoms in England and gave their name to the country.
35. **Vikings:** A group of Norse seafarers who raided and settled in many parts of Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries. They also established settlements in Britain and Ireland.
36. **House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** The lineage of the British monarchy before the name Windsor was adopted. The House was of German origin, but became linked to the British Crown through Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
37. **House of Hanover:** The royal dynasty of Great Britain before the Saxe-Coburgs. The House, also of German origin, ruled for over a century, bringing Protestant principles to the throne and expanding the British Empire.
38. **House of Stuart:** The dynasty that preceded Hanover, and spanned the reigns of Kings James I and VI, Charles I, Charles II, James II, Mary II, William III, Anne, and others. They marked a period of significant religious tension, revolution, and expansion.
39. **House of Tudor:** The dynasty that preceded the Stuarts, and is most notable for the reigns of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and others. They ushered in a period of great change in England, including the Reformation and a powerful golden age of literature.
40. **House of Plantagenet:** The dynasty that preceded the Tudors, featuring the reigns of Richard I (the Lionheart), Henry II, Edward I, and others. They marked a period of consolidating English power, conquering territory, and establishing a strong monarchy.