Got one of these surnames? You might be related to the Royal Family
What if you’ve been royal all along… and never knew?
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Plenty of people across the UK have been stunned to find links to kings, queens and ancient nobility just by tracing their family tree. And in some cases, a single surname is the clue that unlocks a royal connection.
That’s exactly what happened to EastEnders star Danny Dyer, who famously found out on Who Do You Think You Are? that he’s directly descended from King Edward III and Richard III. If it can happen to Danny, why not you?
If your family name is on the list below, you could be carrying royal blood – and you don’t need a castle or a crown to find out. Genealogy tools like MyHeritage DNA can help you dig into your past, build a free family tree, and connect the dots across centuries of ancestry.
Search your name and start your family tree today with MyHeritage. Click here to get started.
Scroll through this list of 35 surnames – all of them linked to royal or noble dynasties in the UK and Europe. Then check your family history… you might be a king or queen in the making.
1. Windsor
The name of the current Royal Family. If it runs in your family, you could be closer to the throne than you think.
2. Tudor
Henry VIII’s lot. You know, the one with six wives. Still turning up in Welsh and English family trees.
3. Stuart
Scottish royals who ruled both sides of the border. Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie were Stuarts.
4. Plantagenet
The OG royal dynasty. Gave us Richard the Lionheart, Edward III and more.
5. Capet
Medieval kings of France. Their descendants spread far and wide after the Norman invasion.
6. Bourbon
Another French powerhouse, also ruled Spain. Think Versailles, power, and scandal.
7. Habsburg
Massive European dynasty – rulers of the Holy Roman Empire and half of Europe at one point.
8. Hanover
Imported royals who ran Britain from George I through to Queen Victoria.
9. Valois
French royalty from the 14th to 16th centuries – if you’re part French, it’s one to look out for.
10. Lancaster
Famous in the Wars of the Roses. Henry IV, Henry V… a blood-soaked dynasty.
11. York
The other side of the Roses war. Richard III’s crew – he’s the one they found under a car park.
12. Bruce
Scottish legend Robert the Bruce defeated the English at Bannockburn. Enough said.
13. de Valois
Elite French nobility, closely tied to the royal succession.
14. de Medici
Italian rulers and Renaissance icons. If this is in your tree, you’ve got flair in your blood.
15. Savoy
Royalty from parts of Italy and France. Played a big role in European power games.
Search your name and start your family tree today with MyHeritage. Click here to get started.
16. Orange-Nassau
The Dutch royal family. William of Orange became a British king.
17. Oldenburg
The ruling house of Denmark and Norway – and cousins of many other royals.
18. Glucksburg
A branch of Oldenburg. Modern royalty in Scandinavia comes from here.
19. Romanov
Russia’s last imperial dynasty. The Tsars – opulence, tragedy and all.
20. Baskerville
Not just a Sherlock Holmes mystery. A real English noble family, originally Norman.
21. Darcy
Medieval aristocrats in England and Ireland. Think land, power, and influence.
22. Neville
Key players in the Wars of the Roses. A family of kingmakers.
Search your name and start your family tree today with MyHeritage. Click here to get started.
23. Percy
Northern aristocrats with castles to prove it. Big names in English history.
24. Astley
Midlands landowners with links to the peerage.
25. Capell
Earls of Essex. Major players in the English Civil War.
26. Howard
Dukes of Norfolk. One of England’s most powerful noble families.
27. Seymour
Jane Seymour’s family – yes, the wife Henry VIII actually liked.
28. Grey
Lady Jane Grey was queen for nine days. It counts.
29. FitzAlan
Former Earls of Arundel. Medieval movers and shakers.
30. Courtenay
Tied to both English and French royalty. A Crusader-era power family.
31. Manners
Dukes of Rutland. Still a big deal in aristocratic circles.
32. Russell
Dukes of Bedford. Politicians, landowners, royal allies.
33. Cavendish
Founders of Chatsworth House and the Dukes of Devonshire.
34. Talbot
Earls of Shrewsbury. A stronghold name in English nobility.
35. Spencer
Princess Diana’s family name. And through her, connected to William and Harry.
If your surname’s on this list – or even in your wider family – it’s well worth digging deeper. You could be sitting on a royal story just waiting to be uncovered.
Start your royal search with MyHeritage today
Your royal family tree might only be a few clicks away. With MyHeritage, it’s free and easy to get started – just enter a few names and watch your tree grow. From birth records and marriage certificates to DNA connections and old family photos, they’ll help you uncover generations of your history.
You can even take a MyHeritage DNA test to uncover your origins across more than 2,100 global regions – and maybe even find distant cousins you never knew you had.
Try it now:
– Build your family tree in minutes
– Get DNA matches and historical records
– Discover connections you never imagined
Start your free family tree or take a DNA test with MyHeritage now
You don’t need a crown – just curiosity.
