There are less obvious surnames than Windsor that could prove a link to the royals

Rachael Davies, Jada Jones Content Commercialisation Editor and Rachael Davis

16:37, 01 Sep 2025

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreMembers of the Royal Family (L-R) Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (with Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips, Prince George) and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force, in London on June 9, 2018. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. In 1748, it was decided that the parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign. More than 600 guardsmen and cavalry make up the parade, a celebration of the Sovereign's official birthday, although the Queen's actual birthday is on 21 April. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)MyHeritage: 35 surnames that could mean you’re related to the Royal Family(Image: DANIEL LEAL, AFP via Getty Images)

Many of us are keen to delve into our ancestry, family history and potential relatives. The era of laboriously trawling through heritage records and census data is a thing of the past, thanks to various online platforms that make this process straightforward and accessible, including MyHeritage.

Currently, MyHeritage is providing a 14-day free trial, offering individuals the chance to map out their family tree, discover new kin and explore billions of historical records. They’ve even compiled a list of 35 surnames that could potentially suggest a connection to royalty.

The firm proposes that certain surnames have traditionally been linked with nobility and could strongly imply a Royal lineage. If users bear one of these 35 surnames, they might be in for a surprise when it comes to their family tree.

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While possessing these surnames doesn’t assure a link to the royals, it provides an excellent springboard for those intrigued by their heritage.

To learn more, individuals simply need to visit MyHeritage and start constructing their family tree using the platform’s tools that allow users to input names, dates, photos and stories to share with other potential kin, before exploring historical archives containing census data, birth and death certificates, as well as marriage documentation, reports the Mirror.

The platform also offers DNA testing services, giving customers insights into their ethnic heritage and linking them with family members.

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For those not swayed by this service, there are other DNA platforms on offer, such as Ancestry. This service provides DNA analysis from £79, assisting in organising and connecting customers with their relatives whilst offering insights into family roots.

Another alternative is 23andMe, which offers DNA testing that includes ancestry breakdowns, personalised health information and additional services starting from £89.

MyHeritageMyHeritage can help you build your family tree (Image: MyHeritage)

Here’s an exhaustive list of 35 surnames that could hint at a distant relation to the Royals:

  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.

Young child's hands entering frame, and picking up a shiny plastic silver tiara toy, covered in plastic jewelsPeople can look through archives to see any royal linkage (Image: Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images)

MyHeritage boasts an impressive 4 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot. One pleased customer remarked: “Immediate accurate statistics of my immediate family members.”

Another user stated: “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 everyone was satisfied, with one user expressing: “I don’t fully understand it. I can’t find a user guide, difficult to navigate, Help Center does not always understand my problems.”

Yet, another amateur genealogist described their use of the site as an ‘enjoyable experience,’ 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.”

The DNA tests and platform can be found on the MyHeritage website.