Welsh surname that could mean you're related to the Royal family and how to check
MyHeritage has given a list of 35 surnames that could indicate a link to royal lineage, with names on the list that have long been associated with nobility
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales, Catherine
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Many of us are curious about our ancestry, lineage and potential familial connections. And one heritage company has uncovered a list of surnames that could see individuals connected to the Royal family.
MyHeritage is a site where people can map out their family tree, discover new relatives and delve into billions of historical records - gone are the days of laboriously trawling through heritage archives and census data. They're currently offering a 14-day free trial for anyone looking to dig deeper into their family background.
The ancestry company has compiled a list of 35 surnames that could potentially reveal Royal connections, one of which has Welsh roots. The company suggests that certain surnames have traditionally been linked to nobility and could strongly suggest ties to Royal bloodlines, reports the Express..
While the Tudor name is most closely associated with monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the surname actually has Welsh roots. It derives from the Welsh name "Tudur" or "Tewdwr," and means "people's ruler" or "ruler of the people".
But it's not the only surname with potential Royal heritage. If users bear one of the following 35 surnames, they might be in for an unexpected revelation regarding their kinship.
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The 35 surnames are:.
1. Windsor: The surname of the current British Royal family, adopted in 1917.
2. Tudor: A Welsh dynasty that gave us notable monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
3. Stuart: A Scottish house that held the throne in England and Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries.
4. Plantagenet: This Royal house provided England with a line of monarchs from Henry II to Richard III.
5. Capet: The ruling dynasty in France from 987 to 1328.
6. Bourbon: A European Royal house that has ruled over France, Spain, and other territories.
7. Habsburg: A significant Royal house in Europe, renowned for ruling the Holy Roman Empire.
8. Hanover: The British Royal house that spanned from George I to Queen Victoria.
9. Valois: A cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty that governed France.
10. Lancaster: A branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, known for its involvement in the Wars of the Roses.
11. York: Another branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, also deeply involved in the Wars of the Roses.
12. Bruce: A Scottish Royal house, with Robert the Bruce being a notable king.
13. de Valois: A French Royal house that produced several kings.
14. de Medici: An influential Italian family that produced both royalty and popes.
15. Savoy: A Royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France.
16. Orange-Nassau: The Dutch Royal family.
17. Oldenburg: A European Royal house that includes the current Danish Royal family.
18. Glucksburg: A branch of the House of Oldenburg, associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty.
19. Romanov: The final imperial dynasty to rule Russia.
20. Baskerville: A noble family name with historical ties to England.
21. Darcy: This surname is linked with medieval nobility and landowners in England and Ireland.
22. Neville: A significant English noble family with considerable influence during the medieval era.
23. Percy: An aristocratic English lineage renowned for their role in British history.
24. Astley: A noble surname associated with the English peerage.
25. Capell: A distinguished English family with historical connections to the aristocracy.
26. Howard: A notable aristocratic family in the UK, bearing the title of Dukes of Norfolk.
27. Seymour: The lineage of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, connected to the Dukedom of Somerset.
28. Grey: Associated with Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for just nine days.
29. FitzAlan: A powerful medieval family, previously Earls of Arundel.
30. Courtenay: A noble family with ties to both English and French royalty.
31. Manners: The surname of the Dukes of Rutland, a high-ranking noble family.
32. Russell: Linked to the Dukes of Bedford, an influential aristocratic family.
33. Cavendish: The surname of the Dukes of Devonshire, a formidable British noble family.
34. Talbot: A noble family holding the Earldom of Shrewsbury.
35. Spencer: The family name of Princess Diana, linking it to the contemporary British Royal family.
Whilst these family names don't guarantee that individuals will certainly be connected to the royals, they provide an excellent starting point for those with curiosity about their heritage. To discover more, people need only visit MyHeritage and start constructing their family tree using the site's functionality that enables users to include names, dates, photographs and narratives to share with other potential relatives, before searching through the historical documentation which contains census information, birth and death certificates and marriage records.
The platform also provides DNA testing services. These will supply customers with details about their ethnic heritage and connect them with family members.
Customers can dig deep to see if they are related to The Royal Family
(Image: MyHeritage)
If this platform isn't quite what family historians are after, there are other DNA sites to choose from - such as Ancestry, which offers DNA tests from £79 and organises and connects shoppers with their relatives and also gives insights about family origins. Another is 23andMe which offers DNA testing with an ancestry breakdown, personalised health insights and more for prices beginning at £89.
MyHeritage has a high 4 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot, however. One person said: "Immediate accurate statistics of my immediate family members."
Another wrote: "Regular updates of discoveries, positive results. This site is not just about the money, it is about genuine results for the family history researcher."
"My family history has expanded and the format is easily understood. Changes are quick and easy. Thank you," said another shopper.
Not everyone agreed, however, as one user said: "I don't fully understand it. I can't find a user guide, difficult to navigate, Help Center does not always understand my problems. My previous version was much easier for me," said another.
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However, another amateur sleuth described using the site as an 'enjoyable experience,' adding: "Finding related families and information relating to individuals has been a wonderful experience. My Heritage has made it even easier to trace ancestors and verify relations."
The DNA tests and platform is available at the MyHeritage website.
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