A List of 100 Royal Last Names

There’s a saying that asks “What’s in a name?” The surprising answer may in fact be that a whole lot could be in your name. Recently a list of 100 surnames was released that may indicate you could be related to the current Monarchy of the United Kingdom.

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100 Royal Last Names and Their Meanings

  1. Abel: A German surname that is likely patronymic and translates as “noble one”

  2. Alden: An Old English surname deriving from the word Ealdwine, meaning “old friend”

  3. Appleton: A locational name that likely derives from the Old English aeppleton meaning “orchard”

  4. Ayer: This name derives from the Middle English eir, eyer and heir. Literally meaning “the heir”

  5. Barber: An occupational surname deriving from the Latin barbarous, meaning “beard”

  6. Barclay: A locational surname meaning someone from Berkeley Gloucestershire

  7. Beverly: A locational surname deriving from the Old English words befer (beaver) and leah (clearing)

  8. Binney: Locational name deriving from the Old English Binnan meaning “within the stream”

  9. Brooke: Locational name for someone who lived in a place called Brook or near a brook

  10. Brown: Nickname for someone with brown complexion eyes or hair

  1. Campbell: Derives from the Gaelic nickname Caimbeul meaning crooked mouth

  2. Carroll: Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Cearbhaill meaning “grandson of Cearbhaill”

  3. Chauncey: Likely a locational name for someone from Chauncey

  4. Colman: Possibly derived from the Gaelic words colm (dove) and ban (white) essentially meaning white dove

  5. Cooper: Occupational name for a barrel or tub maker

  6. Davis: A Patronymic name meaning “son of David.” The name David deriving from the Hebrew word for “beloved of Jehovah

  7. Dickinson: A patronymic name meaning “son of Dick or Richard.” Richard is derived from Germain ric (power) and hard (Strong)

  8. Darling: Originating from the Old English deorling (one dearly loved)

  9. Douglas: Deriving from the Old Gaelic dubh (dark) and glas (stream)

  10. Dunbar: Locational name indicating someone from Dunbar, Berwick, Scotland

  1. Edwards: From the Old English ead (prosperity) and weard (guard), meaning prosperity guard

  2. Ellery: Derives from the Latin hilaris (cheerful one)

  3. Ellis: Derives from the Hebrew word Eliyahu (Jehovah is God)

  4. Emmett: Derives from Emmott a pet form of the given name Emma

  5. Evans: Patronymic name meaning “son of Evan” deriving from the given name John which means “favored of Jehovah"

  6. Farley: Anglicized version of the Irish name Fearghail meaning “man of valor”

  7. Fleming: Irish surname that translates as “man from Flanders”

  8. Forest: Derives from the French and Latin foris (outside)

  9. French: Locational and nickname based for someone from France or who acted in a French manner

  10. Gardiner: Medieval French name deriving from gardin “little clearing”

  1. George: From the Greek Georgios meaning “farmer”

  2. Gerard: Derives from Medieval English geri (spear) and hard (brave)

  3. Gerry: Deriving from the Medieval English word geri “spear”

  4. Gibson: Patronymic meaning son of Gib or Gilbert, from the 11th century Norman Gisil (noble) and berht (bright)

  5. Graham: Locational name for someone from Grantham in Lincolnshire translated as “homestead on the gravel"

  6. Hamilton: Derives from Old English hamel (bare) and dun (hill)

  7. Haynes: Patronymic name meaning “son of hain which itself derives from the Old German Hagano meaning hawthorn

  8. Herbert: Deriving from the given name Herbert and from the German heri (army) and berht (bright)

  9. Hill: A locational surname for someone who lived on or near a hill

  10. Howard: Deriving from 7th century Germanic words hug (heart) and hard (brave)

41 Hume: Locational for someone from any of the UK places called Hulme. From the Old Norse holmr “small island of flat land”

  1. Irving: Locational for someone from Irving or Irvine in Scotland

  2. Jackson: patronymic name meaning “son of Jack.” Jack is a nickname form for the given name John

  3. James: Deriving from the Biblical given name coming from the Hebrew Yaakov

  4. Jenkins: Deriving from the medieval name Jenkin which itself translates as “kin of John”

  5. Johnson: Patronymic name meaning “son of John”

  6. Kane: Deriving from Old French meaning tall, thin man

  7. Kennedy: Derived from Old Gaelic personal name cinneidigh translating as helmeted head

  8. Ker: Derives from the Scottish borderlands and the Old Norse Kjarr (wet ground)

  9. Key: occupational name for a maker of keys

  1. King: Deriving from Old English cyning meaning “king”

  2. Langdon: Locational name for someone from one of various UK places known as Langdon

  3. Lawrence: Locational name from the given name Laurentius which comes from Laurentium meaning “city of laurels”

  4. Lee: Topographical from the Old English leah “clearing”

  5. Leonard: Derives from 7th century German levon (lion) and hardu (brave)

  6. Livingston: Locational for someone from the Scottish parish of Livingston

  7. Lloyd: From Old Welsh llwyd meaning gray

  8. McCall: Derives from the pre 7th century Olde Gaelic name Mac Cathmhaoil meaning battle chief

  9. McDonald: Derives from 19th century Gaelic name mac Dhomhnuill meaning “son of the world ruler”

  10. Macalester: Derives for Gaelic Mac Alasdair meaning “defender of men”

  11. Montgomery: Of Norman origin translating as hill man power

  1. Morris: Derives from the Latin Maurice meaning Moorish or dark

  2. Morton: Locational for someone from or near Morton Scotland

  3. Nelson: Patronymic Scandinavian name meaning “son of Nels.” The name Nels is a form of Niall meaning :champion

  4. Nicholson: Patronymic of Greek origin meaning “son of Nikolas” which itself means victory-people

  5. Nixon: Patronymic of Greek origin meaning “son of Nikolas” which itself means victory-people

  6. Norris: Deriving from 10th century Norman French norreis meaning “Northerner”

  7. O’Carroll: Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Cearbhaill meaning “grandson of Cearbhaill”

  8. Ogle: Locational name for someone from several UK areas known as Ogley

  9. Opie: Derives from the Norse Viking name Asbjorn meaning God Bear

  10. Parsons: Occupational surname referring to someone who worked for a Parson

  1. Patterson: Patronymic name translating as “son of Patrick” deriving from Patrician meaning “son of a noble father”

  2. Peabody: Middle English nickname combining pe (peacock) and body (body). Indicates a colorful dresser

  3. Pomeroy: Derives from Old French Pommeroie meaning apple orchard

  4. Porter: Old French occupational name for a gatekeeper

  5. Pratt: Derives from pre 7th century word praett meaning trick

  6. Preston: Locational for someone from one of several UK towns called Preston

  7. Quay: Locational name for someone who lived near a quayside

  8. Randolph: Derives from German rand (shield rim) and wolf

  9. Read: Derives from pre 7th century word read meaning red

  10. Reeve: A pre 7th century word meaning a steward or bailiff

  1. Robinson: Patronymic name meaning “son of Robin” which itself translates as fame bright

  2. Rogers: Patronymic name meaning “son of Roger which itself comes from the Anglo-Saxon name Hrothgar meaning famous spear

  3. Sanford: Derives from Old English Sand-Forda meaning shallow ford

  4. Shaw: Derives from Old English word sceaga meaning small wood

  5. Smith: Derives from Old English occupational name for a blacksmith

  6. Sowden: Derived from Old French Soudan meaning Sultan

  7. Stanley: Derives from Old English translating as stone clearing

  8. Taylor: An occupational name given to makers of clothing

  9. Townsend: Topographical nickname given to someone living just outside of a settlement

  10. Turner: Occupational nickname for a woodworker

  11. Tyler: Occupational name given to a maker or layer of tiles

  12. Valentine: Derives from the Latin Valentinus meaning strong or healthy

  13. Varson: May be a version of the Scandinavian name Ivar in the patronymic form likely meaning is “son of Var”

  14. Walker: Occupational name given to a Fuller, from the 7th century word wealcere

  1. Watts: Derived from the Germanic word wald “to rule”

  2. White: Descriptive nickname for someone of fair hair and complexion

  3. Whiting: Derives from pre 7th century work Hwita meaning “the white one”

  4. Williams: Patronymic meaning “son of William” which itself translates as strong helm

  5. Young: Descriptive nickname for a young person often a son who bears the same name as his father

Conclusion

These 100 names have connections within the current royal family of Great Britain. The connections may be recent or further back in the family. Possessing one of these surnames does not mean you are definitely related to the House of Windsor. It also does not mean that you are not.

As with all things genealogical, if one or more of these names appear in your direct family lines, do some extra research. You may be able to find a connection with the royal family of Great Britain.

Neil Edwards

Neil Edwards

Genealogist and family-tree research specialist

Neil was born in Shropshire, England surrounded by centuries of living history. His interest in the past has been a lifelong passion leading to undergraduate degrees in both Economic History & Geography and History & Politics.

This interest in history quickly translated to family history when he moved to the U.S. in 2010. It was here that he began working on his own family tree as well as that of his American wife. That research allowed him to gain a wealth of experience working with both U.S. and European genealogical documents and studying their best uses in researching family history.

Following 9 years of honing his genealogical research skills, Neil was proud to have earned a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in late 2019. Neil also took part in the research process for a Duke University study into the families of 19th Century UK Members of Parliament.

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  • "A List of 100 Royal Last Names". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 19, 2024. https://namecensus.com/blog/a-list-of-100-royal-last-names/.

  • "A List of 100 Royal Last Names". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/blog/a-list-of-100-royal-last-names/. Accessed 19 March, 2024

  • A List of 100 Royal Last Names. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/blog/a-list-of-100-royal-last-names/.