200+ Royal Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)
Royal last names have long been the source of fascination because they connote power, blood, and historical continuity.
Many royals generally only prefer to be called by their first names and titles, and, after some time, some of them adopted or were even given surnames.
From the House of Windsor of Britain to the Habsburgs of Austria and the Romanovs of Russia, these names tell a story of dynasties, alliances, and political shifts.
In this article, we will explore the history, meaning, and evolution of royal last names and how they are used to mold the legacy of monarchies worldwide.
Royal last names
Windsor (UK) – Derived from Windsor Castle, symbolizing strength and endurance.
Stuart (Scotland/UK) – From the Old French estuart, meaning “steward” or “guardian.”
Tudor (Wales/England) – Possibly from the Welsh Tudur, meaning “ruler” or “leader.”
Plantagenet (England) – From the Latin Planta Genista, referring to a broom plant used as an emblem.
Habsburg (Austria/Holy Roman Empire) – Named after Habsburg Castle in present-day Switzerland.
Bourbon (France/Spain/Italy) – From Bourbon-l’Archambault in France, associated with a noble lineage.
Valois (France) – Named after the Valois region in northern France.
Capet (France) – From Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian dynasty, meaning “cape” or “hood.”
Bonaparte (France) – Italian origin, meaning “good departure” or “good fate.”
Orléans (France) – Named after the city of Orléans, denoting a branch of the French royal family.
Savoy (Italy) – From the historical Savoy region, meaning “fir forest” in Latin.
Hohenzollern (Germany/Prussia) – Named after Zollern Castle in present-day Baden-Württemberg.
Wettin (Germany) – From Wettin Castle in Saxony, associated with many German rulers.
Hesse (Germany) – Named after the region of Hesse, derived from the Germanic tribe Chatti.
Oldenburg (Denmark/Norway/Germany) – From the town of Oldenburg, meaning “old fortress.”
Glücksburg (Denmark/Norway/Germany/Greece) – From Glücksburg Castle, meaning “happiness fortress.”
Romanov (Russia) – Meaning “son of Roman,” referring to the dynasty’s founder.
Rurik (Russia) – From Rurik, a Viking prince whose name means “famous ruler.”
Godunov (Russia) – Derived from “godun,” meaning “brawny” or “strong.”
Vasa (Sweden/Poland) – From the Swedish word for “sheaf,” representing agriculture and unity.
Bernadotte (Sweden) – From a French surname meaning “bold bear.”
Battenberg (Germany/UK) – From Battenberg town in Hesse, later changed to Mountbatten in the UK.
Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) – From the House of Nassau and the Principality of Orange in France.
Braganza (Portugal/Brazil) – From the town of Bragança, meaning “noble” or “defensive castle.”
Aviz (Portugal) – Named after the Order of Aviz, a military-religious order.
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Germany/UK/Bulgaria/Belgium) – Named after the duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Hohenberg (Austria) – Meaning “high mountain,” used by descendants of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Pahlavi (Iran) – Derived from Middle Persian, meaning “heroic” or “warrior.”
Qajar (Iran) – From a Turkic origin, referring to the ruling tribe.
Alaouite (Morocco) – From “Ali,” the dynasty’s founder, meaning “high” or “exalted.”
Saud (Saudi Arabia) – From King Saud, meaning “fortunate” or “blessed” in Arabic.
Osman (Ottoman Empire/Turkey) – From Osman I, meaning “bone” or “pure.”
Seljuk (Turkey/Persia) – Named after the founder Seljuk, meaning “little sultan.”
Ming (China) – Meaning “bright” or “enlightened.”
Qing (China) – Meaning “pure” or “clear.”
Zhao (China, Song Dynasty) – An ancient noble surname meaning “surpass” or “excel.”
Nguyễn (Vietnam) – Meaning “original” or “first,” associated with Vietnamese emperors.
Trần (Vietnam) – Meaning “to exhibit” or “to display,” used by the Trần dynasty.
Lý (Vietnam/Korea) – Meaning “plum,” used by ruling families in both countries.
Gojoseon (Korea, legendary) – Named after the first Korean kingdom, meaning “high morning land.”
Yi (Korea, Joseon Dynasty) – Meaning “plum” or “benefit.”
Ashikaga (Japan) – Named after a region in Japan, meaning “reed hill.”
Tokugawa (Japan) – Meaning “virtuous river,” associated with the shogunate.
Meiji (Japan, Imperial Family) – Meaning “enlightened rule.”
Chakri (Thailand) – Meaning “mighty warrior” or “wheel of power.”
Gupta (India, ancient dynasty) – Meaning “protector” or “guardian.”
Maurya (India, ancient dynasty) – Meaning “peacock” or derived from the name of a warrior tribe.
Rajput (India, multiple dynasties) – Meaning “son of a king” or “royal descendant.”
Shah (Persia/India/Afghanistan) – Meaning “king” in Persian.
Zulu (South Africa) – Meaning “heaven” or “sky,” used by the Zulu royal family.
Anjou (France) – Named after the French region of Anjou, meaning “angel” or “messenger.”
Navarre (Spain/France) – Derived from the Kingdom of Navarre, possibly meaning “new land” or “plains.”
Castile (Spain) – From the Spanish Castilla, meaning “land of castles.”
Aragon (Spain) – Named after the Kingdom of Aragon, possibly meaning “high valley.”
Trastámara (Spain) – Derived from Latin, meaning “across the river.”
Hohenstaufen (Germany/Holy Roman Empire) – Meaning “high Staufen,” referring to a Swabian castle.
Ascania (Germany/Italy) – Named after the Castle of Ascania, meaning “fortified place.”
Lotharingia (France/Germany) – From Lothar, meaning “famous warrior.”
Normandy (France/England) – Derived from Northmen, referring to Viking settlers.
Burgundy (France/Holy Roman Empire) – Named after the Burgundians, meaning “high land.”
Salian (Holy Roman Empire) – Possibly from Latin sal, meaning “salt,” linked to trade.
Supplinburg (Germany) – Named after the House of Supplinburg, meaning “spring fortress.”
Zähringen (Germany) – From Zähringen Castle, meaning “fortified settlement.”
Schleswig-Holstein (Denmark/Germany) – Named after two regions in northern Europe.
Brandenburg (Germany/Prussia) – Meaning “burnt fortress” or “defensive stronghold.”
Hanover (Germany/UK) – From the city of Hanover, meaning “high bank.”
Lippe (Germany) – Named after the Lippe River, meaning “to flow.”
Mecklenburg (Germany) – Meaning “great castle” in Slavic-Germanic origin.
Courtenay (France) – From the Latin curtenus, meaning “enclosed place” or “court.”
Bagrationi (Georgia) – Meaning “descendant of Bagrat,” an ancient Armenian name.
Komnenos (Byzantine Empire) – Meaning “ruler” or “strategist” in Greek.
Palaiologos (Byzantine Empire) – Meaning “old word” or “ancient logic” in Greek.
Lascaris (Byzantine Empire) – Possibly from a Persian origin, meaning “royal guard.”
Doukas (Byzantine Empire) – Meaning “leader” or “general” in Greek.
Sassanid (Persia/Iran) – Named after Sasan, meaning “guardian” or “protector.”
Timur (Timurid Empire) – Meaning “iron” in Turkic, symbolizing strength.
Mughal (India/Persia) – Derived from Mongol, meaning “strong” or “mighty.”
Chola (India) – A Tamil dynasty name, possibly meaning “prosperity” or “sun.”
Pallava (India) – Meaning “new bud” or “sprout” in Sanskrit.
Varman (India/Cambodia) – Meaning “protector” or “shield” in Sanskrit.
Sen (Bengal) – Meaning “army chief” or “commander” in Sanskrit.
Harsha (India) – Meaning “joy” or “happiness” in Sanskrit.
Medici (Italy) – Meaning “doctor” or “healer” in Italian.
Visconti (Italy) – Meaning “deputy” or “vice count” in Latin.
Gonzaga (Italy) – From a place name, possibly meaning “warrior” or “defender.”
Este (Italy) – Named after the town of Este, meaning “eastern settlement.”
Sforza (Italy) – Meaning “force” or “strength” in Italian.
Orsini (Italy) – Derived from orso, meaning “bear,” symbolizing bravery.
Colonna (Italy) – Meaning “column” or “pillar,” signifying strength.
Dragas (Serbia/Bulgaria) – Meaning “precious” or “beloved” in Slavic languages.
Obrenović (Serbia) – Meaning “blessed” or “protector” in Serbian.
Karadjordjević (Serbia) – Meaning “Black George,” a reference to a famous Serbian leader.
Branicki (Poland/Lithuania) – Meaning “ruler” or “noble” in Polish.
Radziwiłł (Poland/Lithuania) – Of Lithuanian origin, meaning “keeper of power.”
Genghis (Mongolia) – Meaning “universal ruler” or “oceanic” in Mongolian.
Borjigin (Mongolia) – Meaning “blue-gray” or “celestial” in Mongolian.
Oyo (Nigeria/West Africa) – Named after the Oyo Empire, meaning “great warrior.”
Benin (Nigeria/West Africa) – Derived from the Benin Empire, meaning “shining” or “brilliant.”
Akan (Ghana/West Africa) – Named after the Akan people, meaning “foremost” or “firstborn.”
Solomonic (Ethiopia) – Named after King Solomon, meaning “peaceful” or “wise.”
Abernathy – noble or honorable (high status)
Alarcon – of the fortress (royal stronghold)
Alcott – noble cottage / elevated estate
Aldridge – old royal stronghold
Almeida – from the royal citadel
Armfield – armored field (military prestige)
Ashbourne – from the noble ash tree town
Astley – noble top of the meadow
Atherton – town of royalty/elite
Aumerle – noble lineage name
Baldwin – bold friend (royal advisor)
Bancroft – noble hill
Beaumont – beautiful hill (noble land)
Beckford – stream of the elite
Benedict – blessed by the king
Berengar – royal spear bearer
Berkeley – barley meadow with noble roots
Blackwood – dark forest of the lords
Bradford – broad ford held by royalty
Branson – son of the noble guardian
Bronte – thunder (powerful voice)
Buckingham – place of buck (royal estate)
Burke – noble fortress
Byron – settlement by the cows (aristocratic land)
Camden – winding valley of leadership
Cardinal – high cleric or royal counselor
Carlisle – royal fortress city
Carroll – strong in battle (noble)
Carver – maker of history (regal craftsman)
Chamberlain – keeper of royal chambers
Channing – servant of the king
Clarendon – clear valley of the crown
Claybourne – clay stream of the nobles
Cleveland – highlands of leadership
Clements – mild, merciful ruler
Clifford – ford near cliffs (elite estate)
Colbert – bright or illustrious (noble)
Constable – steward of the realm
Corbett – little crown (royal emblem)
Courtney – courtly, noble lineage
Covington – royal settlement
Cromwell – spring by the ridge of nobility
D’Aubigny – of the walnut grove (noble family)
Dalziel – field of nobles
Darcy – from the fortress (aristocratic)
Delacroix – of the cross (royal symbol)
Devereaux – from the riverbank of kings
Dillon – loyal or devoted (royal servant)
Dover – lofty hills by kings
Drake – dragon or leader
Dunbar – hill of the defense
Eldridge – old royal ridge
Elden – ancient protector
Ellington – town of the elite
Emerson – son of the brave ruler
Everard – strong as a king’s guard
Fairfax – fair hair of noble birth
Farnsworth – royal fern estate
Fitzgerald – son of Gerald (royal connection)
Fitzpatrick – son of Patrick (royal ties)
Fletcher – maker of arrows for the elite
Foxworth – noble forest dwelling
Gainsborough – fortress of gains
Gallagher – foreign helper to kings
Garrison – fortified royal guard
Gladstone – shining stone of royalty
Grafton – settlement near royal grove
Grant – great, powerful (royal strength)
Greenwood – noble forest
Halifax – holy existence of the elites
Hamilton – beautiful mountain (royal home)
Hargrave – army of the nobles
Harrington – estate of Harry (royal name)
Hawthorne – hedge of kings
Hendrix – ruler of the household
Huntington – estate of hunts (royal pastime)
Kingswell – well of the king
Lafayette – royal estate of faith
Lambert – bright land of leaders
Langford – long river crossing of the realm
Latham – settlement of lords
Laurence – crowned with laurel
Leopold – brave people’s ruler
Lincoln – pool by the lake of nobility
Lockwood – secure woodlands
Loxley – clearing near nobles
Maddox – wealthy ruler
Marlowe – hill by the lake (elite land)
Montgomery – mountain of the powerful
Montague – point of the mountain; aristocratic
Morrison – son of the noble sea
Noble – of noble birth (royal)
Pembroke – enclosed land; royal fort
Prescott – priest’s cottage (royal advisory)
Rutherford – royal ford of the red land
Sinclair – from St. Clair; bright sacred place
Somerset – land of the summer people
Stanford – stone river crossing of kings
Templeton – town of the temple (royal faith)
Windsor – royal estate/fortified riverbank
Worthington – settlement of worth and honor
