The Real Names Of The Royal Families

[Iain]

Sorry, that should be pronounced too-poo.

[MoonlightRhapsody]

Isn't Great Britain's "real" last name "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" which they changed to "Windsor" to sound more English?

[Iain]

Originally posted by Moonlightrhapsody@Jun 9th, 2004 - 3:12 am
Isn't Great Britain's "real" last name "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" which they changed to "Windsor" to sound more English?

Yes that's correct.

[Charles]

Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha never has been and never was a surname. It is a territory. All the Saxonies were ruled by various members of the house of Wettin. Royals do not have "family names" or surnames unless so specifically decreed. They do have house names. Here are the agnatic names for the royal families, so you can see which families have expanded over various territories:

Albania - Zogu
Austria-Hungary & Bohemia - Habsburg-Lothringen
Belgium - Wettin
Brazil - Bourbon (Orléans-Bragançe line)
Bulgaria - Wettin
Denmark - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Glücksburg branch, ends with The Queen) followed by Laborde-Montpezat
France (Imperial) - Bonaparte
France (Royal) - Bourbon (feuding branches)
Germany - Hohenzollern
Great Britain & Northern Ireland - Wettin (ends with The Queen, Windsor by decree) followed by Oldenburg (S-H-S-G line, Mountbatten by decree)
Greece - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Glücksburg branch)
Italy - Savoy (feuding branches)
Liechtenstein - Liechtenstein
Luxembourg - Bourbon (Nassau-Weilburg by decree)
Monaco - Grimaldi (through a few female lines)
Montenegro - Petrovic-Njegos
The Netherlands - Lippe-Biesterfeld (Orange-Nassau by decree) followed by Amsberg
Norway - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch)
Portugal - Bragançe
Roumania - Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (ends with the current King, apparently)
Russia - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov branch, ends with Maria Vladimirovna) followed by Hohenzollern
Serbia - Karageorgevich
Sweden - Bernadotte
Spain - Bourbon

The Bourbons had a wide expance, with territories that also included the Sicilies, Naples, Parma, etc. Wettin had all the Saxon duchies, the Saxon grand duchy and the Saxon kingdom. Oldenburg's reign was also vast and far flung. Habsburg-Lothringen also held Tuscany and various other tracts of territory.

Interesting enough, technically, the Royal Families of Greece and Norway are also members of the Royal Family of Denmark specifically. Both are descended from Danish kings in the male line and are entitled to Danish princely titles.

[Charles]

Here is an earlier post by me:

Originally Posted by Charles

Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha never has been and never was a surname. It is a territory. All the Saxonies were ruled by various members of the house of Wettin. Royals do not have "family names" or surnames unless so specifically decreed. They do have house names. Here are the agnatic names for the royal families, so you can see which families have expanded over various territories:

Albania - Zogu
Austria-Hungary & Bohemia - Habsburg-Lothringen
Belgium - Wettin
Brazil - Bourbon (Orléans-Bragançe line)
Bulgaria - Wettin
Denmark - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Glücksburg branch, ends with The Queen) followed by Laborde-Montpezat
France (Imperial) - Bonaparte
France (Royal) - Bourbon (feuding branches)
Germany - Hohenzollern
Great Britain & Northern Ireland - Wettin (ends with The Queen, Windsor by decree) followed by Oldenburg (S-H-S-G line, Mountbatten by decree)
Greece - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Glücksburg branch)
Italy - Savoy (feuding branches)
Liechtenstein - Liechtenstein
Luxembourg - Bourbon (Nassau-Weilburg by decree)
Monaco - Polignac (Grimaldi through a few female lines)
Montenegro - Petrovic-Njegos
The Netherlands - Lippe (Orange-Nassau by decree) followed by Amsberg
Norway - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch)
Portugal - Bragançe
Roumania - Hohenzollern (-Sigmaringen) (ends with the current King, apparently)
Russia - Oldenburg (Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov branch, ends with Maria Vladimirovna) followed by Hohenzollern
Serbia - Karageorgevich
Sweden - Bernadotte
Spain - Bourbon

The Bourbons had a wide expance, with territories that also included the Sicilies, Naples, Parma, etc. Wettin had all the Saxon duchies, the Saxon grand duchy and the Saxon kingdom. Oldenburg's reign was also vast and far flung. Habsburg-Lothringen also held Tuscany and various other tracts of territory.

Interesting enough, technically, the Royal Families of Greece and Norway are also members of the Royal Family of Denmark specifically. Both are descended from Danish kings in the male line and are entitled to Danish princely titles.

[Charles]

Originally posted by H.M. Margrethe@May 30th, 2004 - 5:41 pm
The reason that the RF don´t have the other names is that when Denmark lost the rigths over Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg the RF also lorst the rigth to juse the names.

Norway, a branch of Denmark, uses it as a house name still... So I suppose you need to be corrected.

Few of these familes have surnames. The house name for Denmark, Norway, Greece and agnatically of Russia and soon-Great Britain is Oldenburg.

[Charles]

Originally posted by Layla@May 30th, 2004 - 11:40 am
I am now more confused than before. Would a synonym for "House" be Dynasty? And would family name be dependent on marriages as well? For example, say a Queen from House & Family name "X" marries someone with Family Name "Y"..... their kids (and the next ruler) would be from House "X" with Family Name "Y"?

The children are supposed to get their House name from their father... As well as a surname if and only if the father has one.

Thus, if no names changed, Elizabeth II of GB, a Wettin, married Prince Philip, an Oldenburg. Their children would then be Oldenburgs and the Ruling House would change to Oldenburg on Elizabeth II's death.

If the father only has a surname, I suppose it could then become a House name as well.

[Josefine]

I think Crown Princess Victoria have used bernadotte when she have done military practice

[Britters]

Just a quick question-I realize the British Royal family uses Windsor now, but wasn't the name changed in like 1917 because of anti-German sentiments in that area? I do believe thier original last name is Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (or maybe I'm confused and that is the house name...it can happen! :) ) If that were the case, then regardless of the fact that they have been using the sir name Windsor-the British Royal family's true last name would be Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, they just chose not to use it...(IMO)

As I said I could be wrong, it's been known to happen...

[semisquare]

i have notice that royalty seem to have very long names such as a first name, middle name, next to the middle name , next to next to middle name then the last name why is that?

[Sean.~]

Prior to 1917 the British Royal House was that of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (from where Prince Albert, spouse of Queen Victoria, hailed). In 1917, after WWI, the house name was changed to Windsor from the Germanic Saxe-Coburg-Gotha due to anti-German sentiment. Windsor was chosen because the ancient castle was seen as a British bastion, etc. , and thus what name could be more British than that?

At the same time, all German Princelings living in Britain were required to give up their German titles and names. Thus the line of Prince Louis (father of Earl Mountbatten of Burma) and Princess Victoria of Battenberg (a junior line of a morganatic branch of the House of Hesse) changed their family name to Mountbatten ('Mount Batten' being the English translation of Battenberg). He turned in his princely title for that of Marquis of Milford Haven.

This change in title had no bearing on their daughter, Princess Alice (mother of Prince Philip), as she had married Prince Andrew of Greece long before WW I, while she was still a Princess of Battenberg. However, her son, prior to his marriage, took British nationality (something he actually already had as a descendant of the Electress Sophia) took the name of Philip Mountbatten (his mother's family's name at the time), for political reasons.

The British royal house has never actually been the House of Mountbatten because when women succeed they continue to rule under their own family name (eg. Queen Victoria was a Hanover and not a Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). House names rarely change (eg. Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, etc.), although last names might. In the 1960s it was decreed that QE II's and Prince Philip's descendants (in the male line) would be known as Mountbatten-Windsor. Still, I suspect that if and when Charles succeeds the House name itself will remain Windsor.

Hope that all makes sense.

[Solange]

I saw once at the belgian news that they were gonna introduce a new identity card and they used King Albert of Belgium (of course) as an example. It said that is last name was of belgium (van België). Also in a magazine, they wrote ten things that people don't often know about crown prince Philip of Belgium. Like that is surname or last name isn't Saxe Coburg Gotha like many people think but that is full name Philip of belgium is (Philip van Belgïe). I hope this makes any sense.

[Sean.~]

Originally Posted by Solange

I saw once at the belgian news that they were gonna introduce a new identity card and they used King Albert of Belgium (of course) as an example. It said that is last name was of belgium (van België). Also in a magazine, they wrote ten things that people don't often know about crown prince Philip of Belgium. Like that is surname or last name isn't Saxe Coburg Gotha like many people think but that is full name Philip of belgium is (Philip van Belgïe). I hope this makes any sense.

Hi Solange! :)

Yes, they're claiming that the RF doesn't have a last name. Other royal families who hailed from elsewhere (eg the Greeks) also were simply known as 'of X'. However, they are known as the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (which is different from a last name).

I presume they also discussed how Albert isn't actually the King of Belgium, but rather is the King of the Belgians. Anyway, it must have been an interesting show!

[Amilia]

Originally Posted by Sean.~

Hi Solange! :)

Yes, they're claiming that the RF doesn't have a last name. Other royal families who hailed from elsewhere (eg the Greeks) also were simply known as 'of X'. However, they are known as the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (which is different from a last name).

I presume they also discussed how Albert isn't actually the King of Belgium, but rather is the King of the Belgians. Anyway, it must have been an interesting show!

Yes , because here in Belgium we say Koning der Belgen ( King of the belgians ) and not King of Belgium ( Koning van Belgie)

In the Netherlands they say Koningin van (of der) NEDERLAND(en)
( Queen of the Netherlands) and not koningin van de NEDERLANDERS

But tell me if I'm wrong:o

[ally_cooper]

Yes, his title is King of the belgians not King of Belgium

[ally_cooper]

One thing: is King Constantine, King of Greece or like Albert, King of the Hellenes

[Sean.~]

Originally Posted by ally_cooper

One thing: is King Constantine, King of Greece or like Albert, King of the Hellenes

When there was a monarchy the King was officially King of the Hellenes, but commonly referred to as the King of Greece.

[Hayli Connor]

The British royal family's surname is Mountbatten-Windsor, although Windsor was the name chosen by George V after the first world war when relations between Britain and Germany were at a low point, Mountbatten was added because it is the chosen surname of Prince Phillip.

The last name of the British royal family was formely Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - from Prince Albert (QV's hubby).

Although, Prince Phillip's surname was that of the Danish Royals, being half Danish himself, and this was Sonderburg-Glucksburg. Mountbatten (formerly Battenberg) was actually the surname given to Lord Louis, first sea lord, by George V following world war 1, in which Phillip adopted after his move to Britain.

[selrahc4]

Originally Posted by Hayli Connor

The British royal family's surname is Mountbatten-Windsor, although Windsor was the name chosen by George V after the first world war when relations between Britain and Germany were at a low point, Mountbatten was added because it is the chosen surname of Prince Phillip.

The last name of the British royal family was formely Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - from Prince Albert (QV's hubby).

Although, Prince Phillip's surname was that of the Danish Royals, being half Danish himself, and this was Sonderburg-Glucksburg. Mountbatten (formerly Battenberg) was actually the surname given to Lord Louis, first sea lord, by George V following world war 1, in which Phillip adopted after his move to Britain.

The Dukes of Kent and Gloucester and their familes would not be Mountbatten-Windsors, though.

[agisele]

The Swedish royal family is from the Royal House of Bernadotte, and Princess Madeleine actually uses the name Madeleine Bernadotte when she's at school.

Royal Families of Denmark and Greece still do not have last names till this day.