If You Have One Of These Last Names, You May Be Related To Royalty

You might not live like royalty, but it’s possible that royal ancestry exists somewhere in your family tree. Many historical royals actually had ordinary last names that people still use today. Because monarchs are usually known by titles or first names—like Charles III—their surnames are often overlooked.

Unless someone has deeply researched their genealogy, it can be difficult to know exactly where their family roots lead. However, according to Little Things, certain surnames may increase the possibility of distant connections to royal families.

Some names are linked to English monarchs. For example, the surname Adams is sometimes connected to descendants of William the Conqueror, who ruled England after 1066. One distant descendant of that line was John Quincy Adams, a former U.S. president.

Other English-linked surnames include Lewis, Roberts, Harrison, and Elliott. These names have been associated with rulers such as Edmund Ironside, Edward I of England, Alfred the Great, and Edward III of England.

Welsh and Irish history also connect certain names to royalty. The surname Carter has been linked to Rhys ap Gruffydd of South Wales, while O’Brien traces back to Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland.

Scottish royal connections appear in names like Livingston, Watts, and Boyd. These surnames have historical ties to figures including James I of Scotland, Robert II of Scotland, and Robert the Bruce.

Other European lineages may also appear in common surnames. Thomas has been associated with Hugh Capet of France, Phillips with Henry I of France, Fischer with Olaf II Haraldsson of Norway, and Montgomery with Romanos II of the Byzantine Empire.