These 35 surnames could mean you're related to the Royal Family
Whether you've always had a sneaking suspicion that your family crest has a regal flair, or you're simply curious about where your roots might lead, exploring your ancestry has never been easier.
These days, tracing your linage doesn't require trips to dusty archives or decoding microfilm. Online platforms like MyHeritage let you dig into your family tree from the comfort of your own home.
If you're tempted to give it a go, MyHeritage is currently offering Irish users one of its best-ever deals - a DNA kit for just €29 (down from €89) with free shipping and a 30-day free trial of their Complete plan.
With this offer, you can discover your origins across over 2,100 global regions, find new relatives through shared DNA, build your family tree and explore 35.8 billion historical records.
In a recent roundup, MyHeritage highlighted 35 surnames that could suggest a royal link somewhere in the branches of your family tree. While carrying one of these names doesn't mean you're about to inherit a crown or castle, it might just point you towards some intriguing ancestors.
For those in Ireland - where names like Darcy, Talbot and Neville are far from uncommon - this list might strike closer to home than you'd expect.
Here are 35 surnames that could suggest you're distantly related to the Royals: Windsor: The current British royal family's surname since 1917.
Tudor: The Welsh dynasty that produced monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Stuart: A Scottish house that ruled England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Plantagenet: A royal house that provided England with monarchs from Henry II to Richard III.
Capet: The dynasty that ruled France from 987 to 1328.
Bourbon: A European royal house that ruled France, Spain, and other territories.
Habsburg: A prominent royal house of Europe, known for ruling the Holy Roman Empire.
Hanover: The British royal house from George I to Queen Victoria.
Valois: A cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty that ruled France.
Lancaster: A branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, known for its role in the Wars of the Roses.
York: Another Plantagenet branch, also central to the Wars of the Roses.
Bruce: A Scottish royal house, with Robert the Bruce being a notable king.
de Valois: A French royal house that produced several kings.
de Medici: An influential Italian family that produced royalty and popes.
Savoy: A royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France.
Orange-Nassau: The Dutch royal family.
Oldenburg: A European royal house that includes the current Danish royal family.
Glucksburg: A branch of the House of Oldenburg, associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty.
Romanov: The last imperial dynasty to rule Russia.
Baskerville: A noble family name with historical ties to English aristocracy.
Darcy: A surname associated with medieval nobility and landowners in England and Ireland.
Neville: A powerful English noble family with significant influence during the medieval period.
Percy: An aristocratic English family known for their role in British history.
Astley: A noble surname linked to the English peerage.
Capell: A distinguished English family with historical ties to the aristocracy.
Howard: A prominent aristocratic family in the UK, holding the title of Dukes of Norfolk.
Seymour: The family of Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, with ties to the Dukedom of Somerset.
Grey: Associated with Lady Jane Grey, England's nine-day queen.
FitzAlan: A powerful medieval family, former Earls of Arundel.
Courtenay: A noble family with connections to English and French royalty.
Manners: The surname of the Dukes of Rutland, a high-ranking noble family.
Russell: Connected to the Dukes of Bedford, an influential aristocratic lineage.
Cavendish: The surname of the Dukes of Devonshire, a powerful British noble family.
Talbot: A noble family holding the Earldom of Shrewsbury.
Spencer: The family name of Princess Diana, tying it to the modern British royal family.
Whether you're in it for the family history, the storytelling or just the craic, a bit of digging into the past might lead to some interesting surprises - or at the very least, a good conversation at the next family gathering.
Platforms like MyHeritage, and others like Ancestry or 23andMe, make it easier than ever to uncover family history and long-lost connections. You can pick up the MyHeritage DNA kit for just €29, including free shipping and a 30-day Complete plan trial, over on their website now.
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