150+ cool royal last names from history and fantasy

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People are often identified by personal names, titles, or descriptors based on their characteristics, lineage, or places of origin. Cool royal last names from history usually combine historical significance and noble associations. This post contains some cool royal last names associated with royalty from history and various cultures.

Royal last names are no different since they hold information about each noble family tree. They are easily recognised and often have a detailed history and lineage. Many people admire noble family names and shower them with admiration and reverence. They can be from natural history or made up for fantasy stories, but they all sound unique and powerful.

Royal last names

What are some noble last names? More than just fascinating titles, royal last names hold a wealth of history and tradition. These royal surnames are meaningful and represent the origin of a person. Below is a compilation of cool royal last names that mean royalty you should know.

Famous royal last names

The names of royal families, rulers, or ruling dynasties linked to history are called "famous royal last names." These names have been necessary, prestigious, and influential for hundreds of years because they relate to the past of kingdoms and empires. Parents looking for a strong surname with special meaning can explore these famous royal last names to trace their lineage.

Cambridge: The last name Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, gives their children.
Charlemagne: A Roman surname that was King of the Franks.
Ferdinand: The last name of the King of the Netherlands.
Agilolfings: Noble family from the Bavarian region of Germany.
Gerry: Deriving from the Medieval English word geri, "spear."
Gibson: Patronymic, meaning son of Gib or Gilbert.
Lincoln: One of America’s most revered presidents.
Alden: English surname derived from the word Ealdwine, meaning "old friend."
Windsor: Famously associated with the British royal family.
Middleton: The maiden name of Catherine Middleton.
Markle: The surname of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
Suleiman: A Turkish ruler who presided over the Ottoman Empire.
Howard: The last name of the Duke of Norfolk.
Augustus: The surname of Rome’s emperor.
Conrad: The surname of the royal house of Conrad, an early German king.
Romanov: Romanov was the last imperial dynasty of Russia.
Mountbatten: Greek last name used for a British dynasty.
Althan: Althans are German nobles who hail from the Bavaria region.
Habsburg: A prominent European dynasty.
Bergoglio: Pope Francis's last name.
Lamberg: The Lambergs were mostly Barons in the 16th-century Germany.
Bourbon: The name of the French royal family of the House of Bourbon.
Valois: A French royal house.
Arlay is a French house of nobility and part of the bigger House of Ivrea.
Angelos: Prominent noble family of the Byzantine Kingdom.
Tudor: The Tudors ruled England from 1485 to 1603.
Cromwell: Oliver Cromwell, ruler of the British Isles
Stuart: The Stuart dynasty held the English and Scottish thrones.
Maxwell: Peter Trevor Maxwell is the Baron of England.
Arco: Noble family from the commune of Arco in Northern Italy.
Sowden: Derived from Old French Soudan, meaning Sultan.
Ernušt: Belonging to the Jewish ancestry, Ernušt is a member of the Hungarian nobility.
Valentine: Derives from the Latin Valentinus, meaning strong or healthy.
Philopator: The surname of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt.

Wales: Prince Harry and Prince William used Wales as their surname for school purposes when growing up.
Bruce: The Bruce family is an old noble family of Scottish ancestry.
Contarini: Contarinis are the Italian nobility that founded the Kingdom of Venice.
Andechs: Feudal rulers were joint in 12th-century Germany.
Astley: A noble family from England.
Glucksburg: Greek and Danish royal family of the House of Glucksburg.

Ancient royal last names

The family names or dynastic titles connected to the monarchs of former kingdoms, empires, or civilizations are old royal last names. Royal last names inspire a magnificent fantasy world and help you pay homage to some unique noble names. Below is a list of old English royal last names associated with royalty from history and various cultures.

Nefertiti: Nefertiti was a queen of the 18th Dynasty in Ancient Egypt.
Alpin: Alpins ruled Scotland and nearby regions between the 9th and 11th centuries AD.
Wessex: Refers to the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex.
Artois: A noble family from France.
Aethelwulf: King of Wessex.
Abdulaziz: Saudi Arabian royal family.
Alawo: Alowa is a Yoruba name signifying "born into royalty.’’
Al Nahyan: The ruling family of Abu Dhabi.
Dlamini: Swaziland royal family.
Al Hashim: King of Jordan.
Al Maktoum: The royal family of the Emirate of Dubai.
Grimaldi: Associated with the ruling family of Monaco and Princess Grace.
Carafa: A family hails from Naples, Italy.
Mahlangu: king of Ndebele.
Kublai Khan: The influential grandson of Genghis Khan and a ruler in Chinese history.
Plantagenet: A medieval English dynasty with iconic monarchs like Richard the Lionheart.
Hohenzollern: Noble dynasty that played a significant role in European history.
Almoravid: North African dynasty expanding across Spain and Morocco.
Ptolemy: Ancient Greek dynasty ruling Egypt after Alexander the Great.
Hohenstaufen: Ruled the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.
Al-Nasir: Used by rulers in the Islamic world.
Lloyd: From Old Welsh Llwyd meaning gray.
Sforza: Ruled Milan during the Renaissance.
Al Khalifa: The ruling family of Bahrain.
Al Said: The ruling family of Oman.
Zhang: Descendants of emperor Huang Di.
Egbert: Former King of Wessex.
Makedon: This last name is from the Kingdom of Macedonia.
Mercia: The Mercian dynasty, with rulers like Offa.
Pahlavi: The last ruling dynasty of Iran before the Islamic Revolution.

Al Saud: The ruling family of Saudi Arabia, founded by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
Grimaldi: Associated with the ruling family of Monaco.
Al Thani: The ruling family of Qatar.
Gille: The Gille family is a descendant of the Gille dynasty of Norway.
Chakri: The Chakri dynasty is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Jimmu: Emperor of Japan.
Banfi: A commune in Croatia from the noble family of Banfi.
Ilunga: Luba prince and Emperor of Lunda.

Fantasy royal last names

A fantasy royal last name is a surname used in a fantasy world to denote a noble family, a monarch, or a governing dynasty. As part of the one-of-a-kind mythology of a fictional universe, these names are frequently crafted to conjure feelings of majesty, majesty-dom, and mysticism. Here are some fantasy-inspired royal last name ideas for kings and other illustrious characters.

Bernadotte: Swedish royalty in the 1800s.
Godwinson: Harold Godwinson was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England.
Oldenburg: Oldenburg is a European dynasty originating from Northern Germany.
Barber: An occupational surname deriving from the Latin barbarous, meaning beard.
Pendragon: Associated with King Arthur, a legendary figure in British mythology and literature.
Cooper: Occupational name for a barrel or tub maker.
Borghese: A princely family of Italian descent.
Jackson: Patronymic name meaning son of Jack.
Augustenburg: The Augustenburg family is a German-origin noble house.
Barclay: A well-respected noble family from a Baltic German settlement.
Emeraldblade: A person of royal blood who wields an emerald-hued sword.
Baldwins: A line of aristocracy that had their presence in England and Ireland
Goldheart: This name suggests a ruler with a heart of gold—compassionate and caring.
Ellis: Derives from the Hebrew word Eliyahu, meaning Jehovah is God.
Starborn: A celestial lineage born under a shower of stars.
Silverthorne: Conveys a sense of regality with a touch of nature.
Hamilton: Derives from Old English hamel (bare) and dun (hill).
Davis: A Patronymic name meaning son of David.
Farley: Anglicized version of the Irish name Fearghail, which means man of valour.
Fleming: Irish surname that translates as a man from Flanders.
Eldermyst: Conjures a sense of ancient wisdom and magical heritage.
Livingston: Locational for someone from the Scottish parish of Livingston
Burgundy: The House of Burgundy was a branch of the Capet dynasty that ruled France from the 10th to 15th century AD.
Ayer: This name derives from the Middle English eir, eyer and heir.
Emmett: Derives from Emmott, a pet form of the given name Emma.

Fancy last names

People often choose fancy last names to give the idea that they are important, whether they are making up a character in a story or thinking of a name with historical meaning. They make you think of elegance, class, and greatness. The following are examples of Western or European fancy last names:

Beauregard – French, meaning "beautiful view," often associated with nobility and wealth.
Montgomery – Derived from a place name, meaning "from the mountain of the wealthy man," suggesting power and status.
Windsor – Tied to the British royal family, this name signifies regal stature.
Fitzgerald – Of Norman origin, meaning "son of Gerald," it was often used by nobility in Ireland.
Sinclair – Meaning "from Saint-Clair," this name is often associated with nobility and elegance.
Vanderbilt – A Dutch-origin surname meaning "from the hill," famously linked to American industrialists and wealth.
Astor – A prominent surname tied to wealth and the American aristocracy, evoking luxury and status.
Devereaux – A French name meaning "from Évreux," commonly linked to aristocratic families.
Rothschild – Meaning "red shield" in German, this surname is synonymous with vast wealth and influence.
Cavendish – An English name linked to nobility, especially the Dukes of Devonshire.

French last names that mean royalty

A lot of French last names that mean "royalty" or "aristocracy" or "regal power" come from the French government, noble families, or high titles. These titles usually mean places of power or importance in the royal family. Here are some elegant French last names that convey a sense of royalty, nobility, or control:

Beauregard – Meaning "beautiful gaze" or "fair outlook," often associated with nobility and elegance.
Charpentier – Derived from the French word for carpenter, historically connected to important craftspeople who served royal courts.
Devereaux – Meaning "from Évreux," a name with noble origins, often linked to the aristocracy.
Duchamp, Meaning "of the field," has noble connotations and a sense of pastoral elegance. It is often used by landowning families.
Renaud – Meaning "wise power" or "ruler's advisor," this name hints at leadership and governance.
Beaumont – Meaning "beautiful mountain," it suggests a noble family with lands and power.
Duval – Meaning "of the valley," a name often associated with the nobility that ruled over fertile lands.
Desmarais – Meaning "of the marsh," originally tied to noble families who owned or controlled expansive, marshy lands.
La Fontaine – Meaning "the fountain" or "the spring," it carries an air of elegance and life-giving nobility.
Chamberlain – Historically, a title referring to a royal officer managing a royal household is now used as a noble surname.
De la Cour – Meaning "of the court," a surname directly tied to royalty and the noble courts of France.
Montmorency – A prominent noble family in French history associated with high-ranking nobles and royal connections.
LeRoy – Meaning "the king," this surname is directly associated with royalty.
Regnier – Meaning "ruler" or "adviser to the king," it conveys leadership and regal connections.
Plantagenet – While more associated with English royalty, it has French roots and is often connected to noble houses of France.

Japanese last names that mean royalty

Common Japanese last names don't usually directly mean "royalty" because the Japanese nobility and ruling family all have their titles. There are a few exceptions to the Japanese surname system, though. Some of these names are strongly linked to royalty or other places of power. Here are some examples:

ennō (天皇) – Meaning "Emperor," this is not used as a surname but is the title of the Emperor of Japan. The imperial family members do not have traditional surnames.
Ō (王) – Meaning "king" or "ruler," this kanji is associated with royalty, though it is not commonly used as a surname in Japan. It is more widely seen in Chinese names.
Mikado (帝) – Meaning "emperor" or "sovereign," Mikado is a classical term for the Emperor of Japan. While not typically a surname, it signifies royal lineage.
Fujiwara (藤原) – One of Japan’s most powerful and influential noble clans in history. The Fujiwara family held high-ranking positions in the imperial court and exerted significant political influence during the Heian period.
Minamoto (源) – Another noble clan name meaning "source" or "origin." Many members of the Minamoto clan were granted imperial surnames and were connected to the Japanese royal family.
Taira (平) – This surname, meaning "peace" or "flat," was given to a powerful clan descended from imperial family members during the Heian period.
Ashikaga (足利) – A surname tied to the Ashikaga shogunate, rulers of Japan during the Muromachi period.
Takeda (武田) – While not directly referring to royalty, this surname is associated with a powerful samurai clan with regional influence and close ties to the imperial family.

African last names that mean royalty

In Africa, a royal last name often comes from a noble family name, which is a word that means power, status, or rule. This kind of name comes from the complicated social and political backgrounds of the many African ethnic groups that use it. Here are a few examples of African last names that are linked to royalty or nobility:

West African names:

Ade (Yoruba, Nigeria) – The meaning "crown" is often part of compound names denoting royalty. For example:
Adeyemi – "The crown befits me" or "worthy of the crown."
Adeniyi – "The crown has value" or "the crown is precious."
Oba (Yoruba, Nigeria) – Meaning "king" or "ruler." Names that include "Oba" signify royal lineage, such as:
Obafemi – "The king loves me."
Obasanya – "The king compensates for my suffering."
Asante (Akan, Ghana)—While it directly translates to "warrior," it is closely tied to the Ashanti royal family, known for their kingdom and central role in the region's history.
Osei – A common Ashanti surname associated with royalty. For instance, Osei Tutu was a renowned Ashanti king.
Togbe (Ewe, Ghana/Togo) – Meaning "king" or "chief," it is a title often used by traditional rulers in Ewe communities.
Nana (Akan, Ghana) – A title used for chiefs, kings, or respected elders. As a surname, it denotes nobility and leadership.

East African names:

Mwangi (Kikuyu, Kenya) – While it means "one who is quick to action," the Kikuyu people have strong historical ties to leadership, and those with the surname often come from respected lineages.
Makonnen (Amhara, Ethiopia) – A noble name associated with royalty in Ethiopia, notably used by the family of Emperor Haile Selassie.
Ayele (Amharic, Ethiopia) – Meaning "powerful" or "strong," often linked with authority and leadership in Ethiopian nobility.

Southern African names:

Zulu (Zulu, South Africa) – The Zulu people are known for their strong warrior kings, and the surname "Zulu" refers to being part of the Zulu kingdom.
Dlamini – A royal surname among the Swazi people, indicating descent from the royal family.
Khama (Tswana, Botswana) – A name associated with the royal family of the Bamangwato tribe. Seretse Khama was the first president of Botswana and a member of the royal family.
Sefu (Swahili, Tanzania/Kenya) – Meaning "sword," it carries connotations of leadership and power, especially in the context of Swahili coastal leadership.

Central African names:

Nfumu (Lingala, Congo) – Meaning "chief" or "king," it is used among Bantu-speaking groups and denotes leadership roles in their communities.
Mwene (Luba, Congo) – Meaning "lord" or "chief," it is used to signify rulers or leaders in the Luba kingdom.

Do all royal families have last names?

No, last names are not customarily used by all royal houses. For instance, many royal families from antiquity, such as the Egyptian pharaohs, did not use last names in the sense that we use today.

What is the last name of the British royal family?

The British royal family is a member of the House of Windsor. Mountbatten-Windsor, which combines the names of Queen Elizabeth II's royal house (Windsor) and Prince Philip (Mountbatten), is the official surname of the present royal family.

Are royal last names inherited?

Certainly, house names or royal last names are frequently inherited and transmitted from one generation to the next. Usually, they are used to identify people with a certain royal family or dynasty and to indicate the continuation of the royal lineal heritage.

A royal family name is highly respected, admired, and loved for its wealth, influence, and international status. Cool royal last names make characters or families sound unique and vital in natural history or fantasy stories. They add a touch of fanciness and power to the overall feel of the names.

Legit. ng recently published an interesting list of Yoruba names. Yoruba is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. The Yoruba group occupies the southern part of Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo. There are many Yoruba names for parents when naming their children.

The Yoruba name their children the first seven to nine days after birth. Parents must pick a Yoruba name which has a meaning that befits the child. These names depend on the family, time of birth and circumstances around the child's birth.

Source: Legit.ng

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