Before 1917, members of the british royal family had no surname, but only the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged. The worlds largest online family history resource start now. Apr 24, 20 japans royal family doesnt appear to have one, but then it is the oldest continuous royal family in the world and not having a surname has always been traditional. See below for a chart depicting the history and lineage of the british royal family. Members of the british royal family had no surname before 1917, but only the name of the dynasty to which they belonged. Like a window into their daytoday life, royale census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education. All of the monarchs are descendants of king alfred the great, who reigned in 871. The british royal family comprises queen elizabeth ii and her close relations. The royal family are not often referred to using their surname, and. A chronological, genealogical, and historical dissertation of the royal family of the stuarts. Free coat of arms search for your last name and family history. Early notables of the royle family pre 1700 more information is included under the topic early royle notables in all our pdf extended history products and printed products wherever possible. In 1901, the house of saxecoburg and gotha a branch of the house of wettin succeeded the house of hanover to the british monarchy with the accession of king edward vii, son of queen victoria and prince albert of saxecoburg and gotha. Heres why the royal family doesnt use a surname the.
That year, king george v decreed that the family surname would be windsor. Senior titled members of the royal family do not usually use a surname, although since 1960 mountbattenwindsor. Today, the royal family is still known as the house of windsor, and in a broad, general sense, windsor is still the royal last name. This was about 25% of all the recorded royal s in the usa. In 1960, though, the queen and the duke of edinburgh wanted to create their own surname that differed from the rest of the royal family, so decided on the name mountbatten. Throughout history, british royals have been singled out by their first name only. The iconic round tower of windsor castle is home to the royal archives a unique collection of documents relating to the history of the british monarchy over the last 250. Prior to 1917, the members of the british royal family had no surname. The royal family are not often referred to using their surname, and people often ask whether members of the royal family even have a surname as they are easily identified without one. The british royal family has a long history, deeply rooted in tradition and titles, charity work, and a bit of scandal. In 1911 there were 17 royale families living in quebec. The life of wallis simpson, duchess of windsor by anne sebba, the royals by kitty kelley, elizabeth th. The surname royal was first found in kent, where they held a family seat from very early times, and where they were granted lands by duke william of normandy, their liege lord, for their distinguished assistance at the battle of hastings in 1066 a.
The british one only has a surname because the royal proclamation of 1917, changing the name of the royal house to windsor, specifically created the windsor surname before then. The royal family s naming practice may seem complicated, but the reason behind it is relatively simple. Jan 16, 2018 the royal family are not often referred to using their surname, and people often ask whether members of the royal family even have a surname as they are easily identified without one. Kings and queens therefore signed themselves by their first names only, a tradition in the united kingdom which has continued to the present day see style and title. Its often a southern tradition to have a ii, iii, or even iv tacked on to the end of your name. On this day in 1917, during the third year of world war i, britains king george v orders the british royal family to dispense with the use of german titles and surnames, changing the surname of. What is the surname of the monaco royal family answers. But what does that meanand who else gets to use it. Youll never believe the full names of the british royal family. Apr 26, 2011 the royal family do not actually have a surname in the usual sense. Why did the british royal family change their surname to. Japans royal family doesnt appear to have one, but then it is the oldest continuous royal family in the world and not having a surname has always been traditional. Swazi kings up to the present day are referred to as ingwenyama and they rule together with the queen mother who is called indlovukati.
While the howard family may be the preeminent aristocratic family in the united kingdom, the howard name. One hundred years ago, king george v changed the name of the british royal family from the german saxecoburg and gotha to the english windsor. The royals are typically so well known that they dont need a last name to be. This is the royal familys surname what the royal family. The duke is also from the house of schleswigholsteinsonderburgglucksburg and so, arguably, are his heirs. A general history of the house of guelph, or royal family of great britain, from the earliest period in which the name appears upon the record to the accession of his majesty king george and first to the throne. Drawing on newly available info, this show traces how the british royal family has survived the last 100 years of power struggles, politics and more.
In 1891 there were 6 royal families living in london. Those who at the time are entitled to the style his or her royal. The family name is windsor changed from the german saxecoburggotha during the 1st world war. The british royal family support queen elizabeth ii in her state and national duties. Even now, the british royal family belongs to the house of windsor, making it their official family surname.
Those who at the time are entitled to the style his or her royal highness hrh, and any styled his or her majesty hm, are normally considered members, including those so styled before the beginning of the. The house of dlamini is the royal house of the kingdom of eswatini. Prince harry loses royal title and surname in new travalyst. This was about 18% of all the recorded royal s in the uk. Feb 19, 2020 john royal 1665 isles wight, virginia 1725 managed by r. Though, if any surname is to be used for the norwegian royal family, it is rex. In 1880 there were 8 royale families living in virginia. Do you know the history of the british royal family. But, do the members of the royal family have a surname, just like us commoners. Why the royal family doesnt have a last name readers digest. However, more embarrassing than names the length of a bus are the family s links to nazi germany. To find out if your family has royal ties, compare your family tree with the royal family tree.
London had the highest population of royal families in 1891. In the meantime, if you have a unique surname, or even if your last name is smith, ancestry can help you find out where your ancestors worked, how well they were educated, and how. Ties to this last name are a bit more complex than the others, in that the surname was given to royal children born out of wedlock yet recognized as royal offspring. Royal last edited 5 apr 2019 betty mae royal johnson 29 feb 1928 suwanee, gwinnett, georgia, united states 09 oct 2012 last edited 29 mar 2019. A general history of the house of guelph, or royal family of. From princess diana and duchess camilla to duchess meghans dad, thomas markle, taking on the royal family, us weekly rounds up the most shocking royal feuds in history. Fun facts about the lineage of the british royal family. In 1840 there were 27 royal families living in maine. The complicated history of the royal family s last name, mountbattenwindsor prince harrys son archies surname is mountbattenwindsor. Royal family members with the style of hrh and titles of princeprincess do not use surnames. Join us for a brief history and explanation of the beloved familys last name.
The royale family name was found in the usa, and canada between 1880 and 1920. Maine had the highest population of royal families in 1840. Heres why the royal family doesnt use a surname the independent. Apr 23, 2018 from forbidden romances to bloody battles, these are 30 of the biggest controversies in british royal family history. Pendragon name meaning, family history, family crest. His family had fled their homeland during the grecoturkish war when he was just a baby, and hed since lived abroad before joining the royal navy. The family name was changed as a result of antigerman feeling during the first world war, and the name windsor was adopted after the castle of the same name, the royal family website states of. Just as kids might take their dads last name, royal kids took the name of the house from their royal fathers. Because there was a war on and in times of war people get categorised into goodies or baddies just based on their skin colour or name in their case, the surname saxecoburg and gotha simply doesnt sound british and gives out a confusing messag. May 08, 2017 in 1960, though, the queen and the duke of edinburgh wanted to create their own surname that differed from the rest of the royal family, so decided on the name mountbattenwindsor. Download a pdf format guide to the royal archives collections.
Most of the questions are in regards to customization to family tree charts, family coat of arms, family crest symbol, design your own coat of arms symbol, surname history, family rings, and last name meaning, but the first few apply to everyone. Why queen elizabeth and the royal family have no last name. Before 1917, members of the british royal family went by the name of the house or dynasty they belonged to, and just as kids might take their dads last name, royal kids normally took the name. Each year the family carries out over 2,000 official engagements throughout the uk and worldwide. The royal family did not have a surname until 1917. The king, a grandson of queen victoria, chose the name windsor. How did the british royal family come into existence. The oxford illustrated history of the british monarchy. The notable pendragon family arose among the cornish people, a race with a rich celtic heritage and an indomitable fighting spirit who inhabited the southwest of england. Jan 25, 2018 in 1917 george v decided it was time that the royal family had its own surname as before british royals had never required one.
Nonetheless its a surname with a connection to royalty. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our royer research. Before the year 1917, members of the british royal family were known by the name of the house or dynasty they belonged to. Prince harry declines to use royal surname in official u.
But the story of the british monarchy reaches beyond the uk and the reign of. Mswati iii, as king and ngwenyama of eswatini, is the current head of the house of dlamini. A general history of the house of guelph, or royal family of great britain, from the earliest period in which the name appears upon the record to the accession of his majesty king george and. Now that harry isnt a fulltime working member of the royal family, many royal experts assumed he would take on the same surname as his son. Royal and mixon family history, a family tree website. British royal family tree from alfred the great to elizabeth ii 849 present. What is the surname of the royal family of england. She is the 32nd greatgranddaughter of king alfred the great who was the first effective king of. The tree maker ask that you please read the frequently asked questions section before ordering. Most of the questions are in regards to customization to family tree charts, family coat of arms, family crest symbol, design your own coat of arms symbol, surname history, family rings, and last name. In the meantime, if you have a unique surname, or even if your last name. Royal is an english locational surname from the towns of ryal in northumberland and ryhill in west yorkshire, among others. A guide to royal family titles, from the queens specific. While surnames were wellknown during the english medieval period, cornish people originally used only a single name.
Britains king george v changes royal surname history. People often ask whether members of the royal family have a surname, and, if so, what it is. There are 1,000 census records available for the last name royale. A general history of the house of guelph, or royal family. The royal family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most recent development in the royal surname drama was queen elizabeth ii and prince philips decision to make everything just a tad more confusing. We look at the reasons why the royal last name is mountbatten windsor and meghan markle and prince harrys royal baby name.
Recently, however, the duke of sussex filed paperwork in the united states that show he has so far declined to use the surname. The name of the royal house is windsor, but the surname of the queen and the duke of edinburgh prince philip is mountbattenwindsor. If you mean, how did the family come into existence, then the same as every other family on the planet. Instead, they used the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged. Youll never believe the full names of the british royal.
The british royal family surname is mountbattenwindsor who knew. If you mean, how did this family become the british royal family, then its. This is a tradition that has continued to the present day. While setting up a new ecofriendly tourism organization following his official exit from the royal family, prince harry ditched his royal title and surname prince harry and. I would answer this in a sentence but the story behind it is worth knowing.
What is the last name of the royal family of the united. Queen elizabeth ii became queen of the united kingdom and head of the commonwealth on 6th february 1952. Historically, royal family members havent had a last name at all. Nothing happens without a little drama in the royal family. She is head of the british royal family, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 8 greatgrandchildren, and is 93 years, 9 months, and 27 days old. What is the british royal familys last name insider.
May 09, 2019 before 1917, members of the british royal family went by the name of the house or dynasty they belonged to, and just as kids might take their dads last name, royal kids normally took the name of. Real history and the german side of the british royal family. Before 1917, the british royal family had no last name at all. The most royal families were found in the usa in 1880. The royal familys last name, mountbattenwindsor meaning. Philips surname was mountbatten, the family name was changed from the german battenburg also during the 1st world war. Surname genealogy research strategies web seminar download. The most royale families were found in canada in 1911. Members of the royal family may go by both the name of the royal house, and by a surname. The house of windsor is the reigning royal house of the united kingdom and the other commonwealth realms. Before 1917, members of the british royal family didnt have a surname, just the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged. Why the royal family doesnt have a last name readers. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member of the british royal family. Members of the royal family can be known both by the name of the royal house, and by a surname, which are not always the same.
However, the history behind the british royal surname is a bit more complicated than that. Royal family tree britroyals british royal family history. As heir to the throne, his main duties are to support the queen in her royal. Most of them come from the old english ryge, meaning rye, and hyll, for hill. How well do you know the history of the royal family. When queen elizabeth ii came to power, she made a slight modification. What is the surname of the royal families around the world. Apr 28, 2011 see below for a chart depicting the history and lineage of the british royal family. Another 43 words 3 lines of text covering the years 0 and 1679 are included under the topic early royer history in all our pdf extended history. A guide to royal family titles, from the queens specific styling to prince harrys scottish moniker depending on where they are in the u. The royal familys reign spans 37 generations and 1209 years. If you find any surnames in common, try to find a connection by comparing historical documents. If you have one of these last names you may have royal. A short history of royal surnames evan evans tours.