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 are still in use today. Because monarchs are often known by titles or first names—like Charles III—their surnames can be easy to overlook.
Unless someone has deeply researched their genealogy, tracing royal connections can be tricky. However, certain surnames may hint at distant links to royal families, according to Little Things.
Some names are tied 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, former U.S. president.
Other English-linked surnames include Lewis, Roberts, Harrison, and Elliott. These have been associated with rulers such as Edmund Ironside, Edward I, Alfred the Great, and Edward III of England.
Welsh and Irish history also offer royal connections. The surname Carter has been linked to Rhys ap Gruffydd of South Wales, while O’Brien traces back to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland.
Scottish royal ties appear in names like Livingston, Watts, and Boyd. These surnames have historical links to James I of Scotland, Robert II, and Robert the Bruce.
Royal ancestry can extend beyond the British Isles. 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.
While most people won’t uncover a direct claim to a throne, spotting these surnames in a family tree can hint at fascinating historical connections, showing that ordinary names sometimes hide extraordinary stories.