Royal Family Last Names: A Global Exploration

Are you curious about the last names of royal families around the world? This article delves into the fascinating history and meaning behind these unique surnames, offering a comprehensive list of royal family last names and their rich cultural significance. From the well-known Windsor to lesser-known royal lineages, discover the stories behind these names and the individuals who have borne them throughout history.
1. **Windsor:** A royal last name adopted by the British royal family in 1917, derived from Windsor Castle, a royal residence in Berkshire, England.
2. **Mountbatten:** A surname adopted by the British royal family after the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It is the Anglicized form of the German surname "Battenberg", which itself derives from the German word for "bat".
3. **Bourbon:** A prominent royal family name in Europe, originating in the Bourbonnais region of France. It's believed to have originated from a castle in the area, named after a local lord.
4. **Habsburg:** An influential royal family that ruled many parts of Europe for centuries, with roots in the Swiss Alps. The name is likely derived from the castle of Habsburg, near the Swiss town of Habsburg.
5. **Romanov:** The name of the last imperial dynasty of Russia, originating from a noble family in the 14th century. The name is likely derived from the Romanov family's ancestral village, Romanowo, in what is now Belarus.
6. **Hohenzollern:** A powerful royal family that ruled Prussia, Germany, and Romania, originating in the Swabian region of Germany. The name is likely derived from the Hohenzollern Castle, built in the 11th century.
7. **Orléans:** A French royal family branch, originating from the city of Orléans. The name is directly derived from the city itself.
8. **Saxe-Coburg and Gotha:** A German royal family known for its influence across Europe, originating from the regions of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The name is derived from the two respective regions, each with a long history of dukes and princes.
9. **Braganza:** A Portuguese royal family that ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1910. The name derives from the town of Bragança, in northeastern Portugal, where the family had extensive lands.
10. **Bavaria:** A royal family that ruled the Bavarian region of Germany. The name is derived from the Bavarian region itself, which historically was a duchy and later a kingdom.
11. **Wettin:** A powerful German royal family that ruled Saxony, Thuringia, and other territories. The name is derived from the Wettin region of Germany, where the family's ancestral castle was located.
12. **Württemberg:** A royal family that ruled the Kingdom of Württemberg in southwest Germany. The name is derived from the Württemberg region itself, where the family's ancestral castle was located.
13. **Holstein-Gottorp:** A branch of the Oldenburg royal family, known for its ruling of Sweden, Denmark, and Russia. The name is derived from the regions of Holstein and Gottorp in northern Germany.
14. **Oldenburg:** A royal family that ruled Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, with its origins in the Oldenburg region of Germany. The name is derived from the region itself.
15. **Schleswig-Holstein:** A royal family that ruled the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. The name is a combination of the two regions, Schleswig and Holstein.
16. **Thurn and Taxis:** A family that held the title of "Prince of Thurn and Taxis", originally a postal service dynasty. The name is a combination of two regions: Thurn in Austria and Taxis in Italy.
17. ** Liechtenstein:** A royal family that ruled the Principality of Liechtenstein. The name is derived from the region itself, located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland.
18. **Monaco:** A royal family that has ruled the Principality of Monaco for centuries. The name is derived from the region itself, a small city-state on the French Riviera.
19. **Grimaldi:** The royal family of Monaco, known for its long history and influence in the region. The name is likely derived from the Italian word "grimaldo", meaning "strong grip".
20. **Luxembourg:** A royal family that has ruled the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for centuries. The name is derived from the region itself, a small country in Western Europe.
21. **Nassau:** A royal family that ruled various parts of Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is derived from the Nassau region in Germany.
22. **Orange-Nassau:** A royal family that ruled the Netherlands, originating from the House of Nassau. The name is a combination of the regions of Orange (in southeastern France) and Nassau.
23. **Guelph:** A royal family that ruled Britain, Hanover, and Brunswick. The name is derived from the Guelph region in Germany.
24. **Hannover:** A royal family that ruled the Kingdom of Hanover in Germany, the name is directly derived from the region itself.
25. **Brunswick:** A royal family that ruled the Duchy of Brunswick in Germany. The name is derived from the region itself.
26. **Spain:** The royal family of Spain, historically known for its vast empire. The name is derived from the country itself.
27. **Sweden:** The royal family of Sweden, known for its long history and influence in Scandinavia. The name is derived from the country itself.
28. **Denmark:** The royal family of Denmark, known for its long history and influence in Scandinavia. The name is derived from the country itself.
29. **Norway:** The royal family of Norway, known for its long history and influence in Scandinavia. The name is derived from the country itself.
30. **Netherlands:** The royal family of the Netherlands, known for its long history and influence in Europe. The name is derived from the country itself.
31. **Belgium:** The royal family of Belgium, known for its history and influence in Europe. The name is derived from the country itself.
32. **Italy:** The royal family of Italy, known for its long history and influence in Europe. The name is derived from the country itself.
33. **Greece:** The royal family of Greece, known for its history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the country itself.
34. **Romania:** The royal family of Romania, known for its history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the country itself.
35. **Bulgaria:** The royal family of Bulgaria, known for its history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the country itself.
36. **Serbia:** The royal family of Serbia, known for its history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the country itself.
37. **Japan:** The Imperial Family of Japan, known for its long history and influence in East Asia. The name is derived from the country itself.
38. **Thailand:** The Royal Family of Thailand, known for its history and influence in Southeast Asia. The name is derived from the country itself.
39. **Morocco:** The Royal Family of Morocco, known for its history and influence in North Africa. The name is derived from the country itself.
40. **Jordan:** The Royal Family of Jordan, known for its history and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
41. **Saudi Arabia:** The Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, known for its history and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
42. **United Arab Emirates:** The ruling families of the United Arab Emirates, known for their wealth and influence in the Middle East. The names are derived from the individual emirates that make up the federation.
43. **Qatar:** The Royal Family of Qatar, known for its wealth and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
44. **Kuwait:** The ruling family of Kuwait, known for its wealth and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
45. **Bahrain:** The ruling family of Bahrain, known for its wealth and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
46. **Oman:** The Royal Family of Oman, known for its history and influence in the Middle East. The name is derived from the country itself.
47. **Ethiopia:** The Imperial Family of Ethiopia, known for its long history and influence in Africa. The name is derived from the country itself.
48. **Egypt:** The royal family of Egypt, known for its long history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the country itself.
49. **South Africa:** The royal family of the Zulu kingdom in South Africa, known for its long history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the Zulu nation itself.
50. **Cameroon:** The royal family of the Bamum kingdom in Cameroon, known for its long history and influence in the region. The name is derived from the Bamum people themselves.