People with one of 35 surnames told they could be linked to royal family

The newly compiled list could mean you have a noble ancestor

14:05, 20 Aug 2025Updated 14:06, 20 Aug 2025

A woman wearing a crown(Image: Getty)

A newly compiled list has identified 35 surnames historically tied to royal and aristocratic houses across Britain and Europe. The new list from global family history platform MyHeritage identifies 35 surnames that may be connected to royalty.

Many surnames are surprisingly common: Stuart/Stewart, Spencer, and Bruce are widely used across the US, UK, Canada and Australia; Howard and Russell are very popular in the US and also prevalent in the UK, Canada and Australia.

You can find out if you’re connected by building your own family tree — start with yourself and work back through each generation. Then search historical records — census, birth/marriage/death, immigration — to verify possible links, keeping in mind surname variants such as Stewart/Stuart, Darcy/d’Arcy and Capell/Capel.

A MyHeritage spokesman said: ” Surnames alone aren’t definitive proof of royal or noble ancestry, but are definitely a fascinating starting point.”

If you carry one of the following 35 surnames, you might be connected to aristocracy or even royalty.

1. Stuart (Stewart)
2. Spencer
3. Plantagenet
4. Lancaster
5. York
6. Tudor
7. Savoy (Savoia, Savoie)
8. de Medici (Medici)
9. Capet
10. Valois (de Valois)
11. Bourbon (de Bourbon)
12. Orléans (d’Orléans, de Orléans)
13. Howard
14. Seymour
15. Percy
16. Habsburg
17. Bruce
18. Orange-Nassau
19. Oldenburg
20. Glücksburg
21. Romanov
22. Baskerville
23. Darcy (d’Arcy)
24. Neville
25. Astley
26. Capell (Capel)
27. Grey
28. FitzAlan
29. Courtenay
30. Manners
31. Russell
32. Cavendish
33. Talbot
34. Hanover
35. Windsor (Mountbatten-Windsor)

Stuart, also spelled Stewart

A royal house that reigned in Scotland and later on the English and British throne from the early 17th to early 18th centuries.

“Stewart,” derived from Old English “stigweard” (household guardian), was an occupational title evolving into a hereditary Scottish surname. The Stewarts became a royal dynasty when Robert II ascended the throne in 1371. The “Stuart” spelling emerged in the 16th century when Mary, Queen of Scots, altered it in France due to the lack of “w” in French. Both spellings are authentic surnames with royal historical roots, supported by genealogical and linguistic sources, and are still in use today.

Spencer

The family name of Princess Diana, tying it to the modern British royal family.

The surname “Spencer” originated from the medieval title “dispensator” (Latin) or “despenser” (Norman French), meaning “one who dispenses” or “steward” in aristocratic or royal households. This role involved managing provisions and finances. Hugh le Despenser, a 13th-14th century nobleman, was an early prominent bearer. The family’s influence grew through strategic marriages and royal favor. Sir John Spencer (1524-1586) served as MP and Sheriff. In 1765, John Spencer became the 1st Earl Spencer. The Spencer lineage notably merged with the royal family when Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, bringing their bloodline into the British line of succession.

Plantagenet

A royal house that provided England with monarchs from Henry II to Richard III.

The name Plantagenet, initially a nickname, evolved into a significant political statement in the mid-15th century, ultimately becoming a powerful identifier for England’s medieval royalty.

Its origin traces to Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (1113-1151), nicknamed “Plantagenet” from the Latin for “broom plant,” which he reportedly wore in his cap. Unlike modern surnames, Geoffrey and his immediate descendants were known by titles or epithets. The name formally became a family surname in 1448 when Richard, Duke of York, adopted it to assert his patrilineal link to Geoffrey of Anjou and bolster his claim to the English throne during the Wars of the Roses. This solidified the Plantagenet name’s political and genealogical importance.

Lancaster The House of Lancaster was a cadet branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, which produced three English kings: Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI, during the Wars of the Roses

York Like Lancaster, the House of York was another branch of the Plantagenets, supplying several English monarchs (e.g., Edward IV and Richard III) and contesting Lancastrian claims in the Wars of the Roses.

Tudor

Welsh dynasty that produced monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

The Tudor family originated in the 13th century, gaining prominence with Owen Tudor’s marriage to Catherine of Valois. Their grandson, Henry Tudor, defeated Richard III in 1485, becoming Henry VII and solidifying his claim by marrying Elizabeth the daughter of Edward IV and heiress of the House of York. Elizabeth I, who took the throne in 1558 was the last Tudor monarch.

Savoy A royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France. The House of Savoy enjoyed a legacy that stretches for over a millennium. Its name, Savoy (Italian: Savoia, French: Savoie) originates from a region in the Alps where France, Italy, and Switzerland converge. The House of Savoy achieved royal status in the early 18th century when Victor Amadeus II became King of Sicily (1713-1720) and then King of Sardinia. The most significant transformation occurred in the mid-19th century when Victor Emmanuel II spearheaded Italy’s unification, becoming the first King of Italy in 1861. This reign continued through Umberto I, Victor Emmanuel III, and Umberto II until the monarchy was abolished in 1946, making Italy a republic. Even today, the Savoy name holds symbolic weight, with descendants actively seeking to honor their heritage.

de Medici One of the most influential dynasties in European history. The de Medici family, originally Florentine merchants, rose to become a major European dynasty. Their success began with the Medici Bank, founded in the late 14th century, which notably managed papal accounts. Cosimo de’ Medici consolidated their political power in Florence, followed by Lorenzo de’ Medici, who fostered the city’s artistic and intellectual prominence. The Medici expanded their influence through marital and religious ties. Four Medici men became popes: Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV, and Leo XI, all wielding considerable ecclesiastical authority. Moreover, through strategic marriages, the Medici were inserted into royal circles, most notably becoming queens of France: Catherine de’ Medici and her relative Marie de’ Medici brought the family name into one of Europe’s most powerful thrones. Their dominion in Florence was formalised when Cosimo I de’ Medici became Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. The family held this title until the male line ended in 1737.

Capet The dynasty that ruled France from 987 to 1328. The name originates from Hugh Capet, who was elected King of France in 987, effectively ending the Carolingian line and laying the foundation for the Capetian dynasty. Although “Capet” may have begun as a nickname, possibly derived from Latin caput (“head” or “chief”), it became used historically to define the ruling line of France through Hugh’s descendants. While contemporaries seldom used “Capet” as an actual surname, it later became a retrospective identifier for the direct line of French monarchs between 987 and 1328.

Valois and de Valois

The Valois dynasty began in 1328 with Philip VI, a Capetian descendant. Ruling France for nearly 260 years, they consolidated central authority and fought the Hundred Years’ War. The family name derived from the Valois region, granted to Charles of Valois in the 13th century. The prefix “de” is a French preposition meaning “of,” and it is sometimes used in names to indicate origin or association with a place. Traditional historians recognise sub-branches like Valois-Orléans and Valois-Angoulême.

Bourbon (and de Bourbon ) A European royal house that ruled France, Spain, and other territories. The Bourbon dynasty, originating with Robert of Clermont, son of Louis IX, became a dominant European royal line, ruling France from 1589 with Henry IV, and later Spain and Italian realms. During the French Revolution, Louis XVI was called “Citizen Louis Capet,” linking him to Hugh Capet. Cadet branches like Bourbon-Condé retained “de Bourbon,” emphasising their lineage.

Orléans, d’Orleans, de Orléans

The House of Orléans represents a cadet branch of the Bourbon family. Founded by Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (younger brother of Louis XIV), it played a significant role in French royal politics.

In 1830, following the French July Revolution, the House of Orléans became the ruling house headed by Louis Philippe III d’Orléans. Louis Philippe ruled as a constitutional monarch, and as such was called “King of the French” (and not “King of France”). His reign lasted until the Revolution of 1848, when he abdicated and fled to England.

Howard A prominent aristocratic family in the UK, holding the title of Dukes of Norfolk. The Howard family, founded by William Howard in 1295, gained the Duchy of Norfolk through marriage to the Mowbray line. Their son, John, became the 1st Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal in 1483, dying at the Battle of Bosworth Field. His son, Thomas, the 2nd Duke, served Henry VII and Henry VIII. The 3rd Duke, also Thomas, held high office under Henry VIII, whose wives included two of Norfolk’s nieces, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Accused of treason, the 3rd Duke survived, unlike his son, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Surrey’s son, Thomas, the 4th Duke, was executed for plotting against Elizabeth I. Charles, 2nd Lord Howard of Effingham, commanded the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. The Howards regained the Dukedom in 1660, and the Earl Marshal office became hereditary in 1672.