Certain regal-sounding last names may indicate a link to royal lineage – and if you have one, you may have a surprise in store.

05:33, 13 Aug 2025Updated 09:59, 13 Aug 2025

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreLONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 5: (left to right) King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on May 5, 2025 in London, England. Around 1300 members of the armed forces, including the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, along with Commonwealth nations, Ukraine, and Nato allies are taking part in the military procession for Victory in Europe Day, which is celebrated each year on May 8, marking the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. (Photo by Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)Users of a DNA website can figure out if their surname is part of a royal lineage(Image: 2025 WPA Pool)

Many of us are eager to explore our family history, ancestry and potential relatives. The days of painstakingly sifting through heritage records and census data are long gone, thanks to numerous online platforms like MyHeritage that make this process simple and accessible.

At present, MyHeritage is offering a 14-day free trial, giving people the opportunity to chart their family tree, uncover new relatives and delve into billions of historical records. They’ve even put together a list of 35 surnames that could indicate a link to royalty.

According to the firm, specific surnames have traditionally been associated with nobility and could strongly hint at a royal lineage. If users carry one of these 35 surnames, they might be in for a surprise when it comes to their family tree.

While having these surnames doesn’t guarantee a link to the royals, it provides an excellent starting point for those fascinated by their heritage. To find out more, individuals simply need to visit MyHeritage and begin building their family tree using the platform’s tools that allow users to enter names, dates, photos and stories to share with other potential relatives, before exploring historical archives containing census data, birth and death certificates, and marriage documentation.

The platform also offers DNA testing services, providing customers with insights into their ethnic heritage and helping them connect with relatives, reports the Daily Record.

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Here’s the complete list of 35 surnames that may suggest you have a royal connection:

  1. Windsor: The current British royal family’s surname since 1917.
  2. Tudor: The Welsh dynasty that produced monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
  3. Stuart: A Scottish house that ruled England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
  4. Plantagenet: A royal house that provided England with monarchs from Henry II to Richard III.
  5. Capet: The dynasty that ruled France from 987 to 1328.
  6. Bourbon: A European royal house that ruled France, Spain, and other territories.
  7. Habsburg: A prominent royal house of Europe, known for ruling the Holy Roman Empire.
  8. Hanover: The British royal house from George I to Queen Victoria.
  9. Valois: A cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty that ruled France.
  10. Lancaster: A branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, known for its role in the Wars of the Roses.
  11. York: Another Plantagenet branch, also central to the Wars of the Roses.
  12. Bruce: A Scottish royal house, with Robert the Bruce being a notable king.
  13. de Valois: A French royal house that produced several kings.
  14. de Medici: An influential Italian family that produced royalty and popes.
  15. Savoy: A royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France.
  16. Orange-Nassau: The Dutch royal family.
  17. Oldenburg: A European royal house that includes the current Danish royal family.
  18. Glucksburg: A branch of the House of Oldenburg, associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty.
  19. Romanov: The last imperial dynasty to rule Russia.
  20. Baskerville: A noble family name with historical ties to English aristocracy.
  21. Darcy: A surname associated with medieval nobility and landowners in England and Ireland.
  22. Neville: A powerful English noble family with significant influence during the medieval period.
  23. Percy: An aristocratic English family known for their role in British history.
  24. Astley: A noble surname linked to the English peerage.
  25. Capell: A distinguished English family with historical ties to the aristocracy.
  26. Howard: A prominent aristocratic family in the UK, holding the title of Dukes of Norfolk.
  27. Seymour: The family of Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, with ties to the Dukedom of Somerset.
  28. Grey: Associated with Lady Jane Grey, England’s nine-day queen.
  29. FitzAlan: A powerful medieval family, former Earls of Arundel.
  30. Courtenay: A noble family with connections to English and French royalty.
  31. Manners: The surname of the Dukes of Rutland, a high-ranking noble family.
  32. Russell: Connected to the Dukes of Bedford, an influential aristocratic lineage.
  33. Cavendish: The surname of the Dukes of Devonshire, a powerful British noble family.
  34. Talbot: A noble family holding the Earldom of Shrewsbury.
  35. Spencer: The family name of Princess Diana, tying it to the modern British royal family.

Anyone with these surnames can then drill down further using MyHeritage to see precisely how they are connected to the royals.

For those seeking alternative resources, Ancestry is another option, providing DNA tests starting at £79, which not only connect users with relatives but also offer insights into familial origins. 23andMe is yet another choice, offering DNA tests with ancestry breakdowns and personalised health insights, with prices commencing at £89.

royal familyThere are 35 surnames purportedly related to the Royal Family(Image: MyHeritage)

MyHeritage has earned an impressive 4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. One satisfied customer stated: “Immediate, accurate statistics of my immediate family members.”

Another user praised the site for its regular updates, saying: “Regular updates of discoveries, positive results. This site is not just about the money; it is about genuine results for the family history researcher.

“My family history has expanded, and the format is easily understood. Changes are quick and easy. Thank you,” another user commented.

However, not all users were as impressed, with one expressing: “I don’t fully understand it. I can’t find a user guide, it’s difficult to navigate, and the Help Centre does not always understand my problems.”

However, another person described their use of the site as a ‘joyful journey,’ stating: “Finding related families and information relating to individuals has been a wonderful experience. MyHeritage has made it even easier to trace ancestors and verify relations.”