MyHeritage has identified 35 surnames that could suggest a link to nobility – and is giving you the chance to find out if you’re related to the Royal Family for free
Many of us are eager to explore our ancestry, family history and potential kin. The days of painstakingly sifting through heritage records and census data are long gone, thanks to numerous online platforms that make this process simple and accessible, including MyHeritage.
At the moment, MyHeritage is offering a 14-day free trial, giving individuals the opportunity to chart their family tree, uncover new relatives and delve into billions of historical records. They’ve even put together a list of 35 surnames that could potentially indicate a link to royalty.
The company suggests that certain surnames have traditionally been associated with nobility and could strongly hint at a Royal lineage.
If users carry one of these 35 surnames, they might be in for a shock when it comes to their family tree.
While having these surnames doesn’t guarantee a link to the royals, it offers an excellent starting point for those fascinated by their heritage.
To find out more, individuals simply need to visit MyHeritage and begin building their family tree using the platform’s tools that allow users to input names, dates, photos and stories to share with other potential relatives, before exploring historical archives containing census data, birth and death certificates, as well as marriage documentation.
The platform also offers DNA testing services, providing customers with insights into their ethnic heritage and connecting them with family members.
For those not taken by this service, there are alternative DNA platforms available, such as Ancestry. This service offers DNA analysis from £79, helping to organise and link customers with their relatives whilst offering insights into family roots.
Another option is 23andMe, which provides DNA testing featuring ancestry breakdowns, personalised health information and additional services starting from £89.
Here’s the comprehensive list of 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.
MyHeritage boasts an impressive 4 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot. One satisfied customer commented: “Immediate accurate statistics of my immediate family members.”
Another user said: “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,” another user remarked.
However, not everyone was impressed, with one user expressing: “I don’t fully understand it. I can’t find a user guide, difficult to navigate, Help Center does not always understand my problems.”
However, another amateur genealogist described their use of the site as an ‘enjoyable experience,’ stating: “Finding related families and information relating to individuals has been a wonderful experience. MyHeritage has made it even easier to trace ancestors and verify relations.”
The DNA tests and platform can be accessed on the MyHeritage website.
