What is the Royal Family's Last Name: Understanding the History and Tradition

The British Royal Family is one of the most famous and influential families in the world. Despite their immense popularity, many people wonder about the Royal Family's last name. While the Queen and other members of the Royal Family may not use a surname in their day-to-day lives, they do have a last name, and its history is fascinating. This article will delve into the history and usage of the Royal Family's last name, exploring its origins and variations.
1. **Windsor:** Meaning "winding river" or "white hill," this surname was adopted by King George V in 1917 during World War I. He changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to distance themselves from their German heritage.
2. **Mountbatten:** This surname was adopted by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, upon his marriage to Queen Elizabeth II. It is a anglicized form of Battenberg, which is a German surname.
3. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** This surname was the last name of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. It originated from the German duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
4. **Wales:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Prince or Princess of Wales, such as Prince William. It is a geographical name referring to the principality of Wales.
5. **York:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of York, such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. It is a geographical name referring to the city of York in England.
6. **Cambridge:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Cambridge, such as Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Cambridge in England.
7. **Sussex:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Sussex, such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Sussex in England.
8. **Wessex:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Wessex, such as Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. It is a historical name referring to the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex.
9. **Clarence:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Clarence, such as Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. It is a geographical name referring to the former royal palace of Clarence House in London.
10. **Connaught:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Connaught, such as Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Connaught in Ireland.
11. **Kent:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Kent, such as Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Kent in England.
12. **Gloucester:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Gloucester, such as Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Gloucester in England.
13. **Edinburgh:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Edinburgh, such as Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Edinburgh in Scotland.
14. **Strathearn:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Strathearn, such as Prince William. It is a geographical name referring to the district of Strathearn in Scotland.
15. **Chester:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Chester, such as Prince Charles. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Chester in England.
16. **Richmond:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Richmond, such as Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Richmond in England.
17. **Norfolk:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Norfolk, such as Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Norfolk in England.
18. **Somerset:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Somerset, such as Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Somerset in England.
19. **Devon:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Devon, such as William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Devon in England.
20. **Cornwall:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Cornwall, such as Prince Charles. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Cornwall in England.
21. **Rothesay:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Rothesay, such as Prince Charles. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Rothesay in Scotland.
22. **Anglesey:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Anglesey, such as Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Anglesey. It is a geographical name referring to the island of Anglesey in Wales.
23. **Berwick:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Berwick, such as James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed in England.
24. **Kent:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Kent, such as Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Kent in England.
25. **Athlone:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Athlone, such as Prince Alexander, Earl of Athlone. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Athlone in Ireland.
26. **Strathmore and Kinghorne:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, such as Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. It is a geographical name referring to the districts of Strathmore and Kinghorne in Scotland.
27. **Hamilton:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Hamilton, such as Douglas Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Hamilton in Scotland.
28. **Argyll and Sutherland:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Argyll and Sutherland, such as Ian Campbell, 12th Duke of Argyll. It is a geographical name referring to the regions of Argyll and Sutherland in Scotland.
29. **Buccleuch and Queensberry:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, such as Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch and 8th Duke of Queensberry. It is a geographical name referring to the regions of Buccleuch and Queensberry in Scotland.
30. **Roxburghe:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Roxburghe, such as Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Roxburghshire in Scotland.
31. **Mar and Kellie:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Mar and Kellie, such as John Erskine, 19th Earl of Mar and 15th Earl of Kellie. It is a geographical name referring to the regions of Mar and Kellie in Scotland.
32. **Atholl:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Atholl, such as Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Atholl in Scotland.
33. **Perth and Melfort:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Perth and Melfort, It is a geographical name referring to the regions of Perth and Melfort in Scotland.
34. **Fife:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Fife, such as Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Fife in Scotland.
35. **Richmond and Lennox:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, such as Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox. It is a geographical name referring to the regions of Richmond and Lennox in Scotland.
36. **Bedford:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Bedford, such as John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Bedford in England.
37. **Manchester:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Manchester, such as William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Manchester in England.
38. **Newcastle:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Newcastle, such as Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in England.
39. **Northumberland:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Northumberland, such as Hugh Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Northumberland in England.
40. **Westminster:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Westminster, such as Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster. It is a geographical name referring to the City of Westminster in London.
41. **Chandos:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Chandos, such as James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Chandos in England.
42. **Dorset:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Dorset, such as Charles Sackville, 6th Duke of Dorset. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Dorset in England.
43. **Grafton:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Grafton, such as Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Grafton in England.
44. **Kingston:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Kingston, such as Evelyn Pierrepont, 2nd Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Kingston upon Hull in England.
45. **Leeds:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Leeds, such as Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Leeds in England.
46. **Lincoln:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Lincoln, such as Henry Clinton, 9th Duke of Newcastle. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Lincoln in England.
47. **Marlborough:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Marlborough, such as John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Marlborough in England.
48. **Montgomery:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Montgomery, such as Hugh Montgomery, 11th Earl of Montgomery. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Montgomery in Wales.
49. **Northampton:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Northampton, such as Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Northampton in England.
50. **Oxford:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Oxford, such as Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Oxford in England.
51. **Pembroke:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Pembroke, such as Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Pembroke in Wales.
52. **Suffolk:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Suffolk, such as Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Suffolk in England.
53. **Warwick:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Warwick, such as Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Warwick in England.
54. **Winchester:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Marquess or Marchioness of Winchester, such as John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Winchester in England.
55. **Bath:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Marquess or Marchioness of Bath, such as Thomas Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Bath in England.
56. **Lansdowne:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Marquess or Marchioness of Lansdowne, such as Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Lansdowne in England.
57. **Salisbury:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Marquess or Marchioness of Salisbury, such as James Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Salisbury in England.
58. **Exeter:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Marquess or Marchioness of Exeter, It is a geographical name referring to the city of Exeter in England.
59. **Anglesey:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Anglesey, such as Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Anglesey. It is a geographical name referring to the island of Anglesey in Wales.
60. **Cardigan:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Cardigan, such as James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Cardiganshire in Wales.
61. **Chesterfield:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Chesterfield, such as Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Chesterfield in England.
62. **Cumberland:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Duke or Duchess of Cumberland, such as Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Cumberland in England.
63. **Derby:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Derby, such as Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Derby in England.
64. **Essex:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Essex, such as Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Essex in England.
65. **Harrington:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Harrington, such as William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Harrington in England.
66. **Huntingdon:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Huntingdon, such as Francis Hastings, 1st Earl of Huntingdon. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Huntingdon in England.
67. **Jersey:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Jersey, such as George Child-Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey. It is a geographical name referring to the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands.
68. **Lichfield:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Lichfield, such as Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield. It is a geographical name referring to the city of Lichfield in England.
69. **Lindsey:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Lindsey, such as Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Lindsey in England.
70. **Macclesfield:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Macclesfield, such as George Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Macclesfield in England.
71. **Mansfield:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Mansfield, such as William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Mansfield in England.
72. **Moray:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Moray, such as Francis Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Moray in Scotland.
73. **Scarborough:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Scarborough, such as Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarborough. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Scarborough in England.
74. **Shaftesbury:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Shaftesbury, such as Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Shaftesbury in England.
75. **Stamford:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Stamford, such as Thomas Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Stamford in England.
76. **Tankerville:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Tankerville, such as Charles Bennet, 1st Earl of Tankerville. It is a geographical name referring to the region of Tankerville in France.
77. **Westmorland:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Westmorland, such as John Fane, 9th Earl of Westmorland. It is a geographical name referring to the county of Westmorland in England.
78. **Wharton:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Wharton, such as Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Wharton in England.
79. **Winchilsea and Nottingham:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham, such as George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea and 8th Earl of Nottingham. It is a geographical name referring to the towns of Winchilsea and Nottingham in England.
80. **Yarmouth:** This surname is often used by members of the Royal Family who are Earl or Countess of Yarmouth, such as George Anson, 1st Earl of Yarmouth. It is a geographical name referring to the town of Great Yarmouth in England.