Discovering the Meaning and History Behind Prestigious Last Names

Common Aristocratic Last Names

Windsor, Vanderbilt, and Astor are well-known last names, and they all have their own unique histories and meanings. Here’s a breakdown of some popular regal surnames, their origins, and the meanings behind them.

• Astor is one of the most well-known German last names, taken from “goshawk” or “hawk,” and sometimes used when referring to greedy or “vulture-like” men. John Jacob Astor IV, son of William Astor, built the Astoria Hotel in New York in 1897. He was a first-class passenger who lost his life in the Titanic tragedy in 1912.
• Windsor is an English habitational surname believed to be derived from the words “winds” and “ofer,” which translates to “winds over slope hill ridge.” In 1917, King George V adopted the Windsor surname as the official name for the British Royal Family. 
• Vanderbilt is a Dutch topographic surname that translates loosely to “someone who lives by a low hill.” Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch of one of America’s wealthiest families, and his descendants include renowned designer Gloria Vanderbilt and her son Anderson Cooper, a well-known American journalist and broadcaster.
• Beauchamp is a habitational surname with English and French origins. It means “beautiful field,” and is also loosely translated as “from the fair field.” One of the most well-known Beauchamps is Sir Thomas de Beauchamp, the 12th Earl of Warwick. Sir Thomas de Beauchamp was one of Richard II’s known opponents, and he was knighted in or around 1355.

Fancy Last Names Across the World

Some of the most notable fancy names worldwide belong to financial magnates, respected politicians, and world-renowned manufacturers. Here’s a glance at some of the fancy surnames and their connections.

• Rothschild is a Jewish and German habitational surname that translates to “red sign.” This last name is linked to the European Rothschild banking empire. The Rothschild family traces back to Mayer Amschel Rothschild, whose descendants came to be one of the wealthiest families in the world. The Rothschild name came from one of Mayer’s ancestors who lived in a home affixed with a red emblem called “The House With the Red Shield.”
• DuPont, a well-known topographic fancy French last name, translates to “someone from the bridge.” This famous surname belongs to one of the richest families in America. Members of the DuPont family founded America’s oldest corporation, a gunpowder manufacturing company, in 1802. That company is now one a top chemical manufacturer in America, known for inventing nylon, kevlar, and rayon. 
• Orsini is an Italian surname with an ancient, illustrious, and aristocratic history. Multiple Orsinis served as pope over the centuries, with the first one being elected in 1191. Others played key roles in the Roman government during the medieval and Renaissance periods. The name, which translates to “bearlike,” comes from the Latin ursinus. 
• Montague, a French surname, was made famous from the classic tale of love and tragedy Romeo and Juliet. This fancy name combines the words “mont” and “agu,” which translates to “pointed hill.” Montague is also an English habitational surname. Notable Montagues include Drogo de Montagu(d) and Duke of Montagu. 

Discovering Your Family History by Searching Your Last Name

Your surname has a great story to tell, as it holds the key to your family’s origins—learning about their history and culture. By researching your own last name, you can discover its unique meaning and learn about the challenges and triumphs of the ancestors who came before you. Perhaps you may discover that your surname is connected to royalty, or that you’re a descendant of a passenger on the Mayflower. Your surname can also provide a path for finding ancestors. 

Whatever your story may be, Ancestry^® has everything you need to get started. Public records, photographs, and family name searches can provide a detailed snapshot of your family history, while AncestryDNA^® can help you discover where your family may be from. Start your free trial to access extensive genealogical research tools today. 

Sources

• https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/john-jacob-astor-iv
• https://www.royal.uk/house-windsor
• https://www.american-rails.com/cornelius-vanderbilt.html
• https://www.kent-opc.org/opcfamilydata/getperson.php?personID=I15460&tree=tree1
• https://www.rothschildarchive.org/family/
• https://www.forbes.com/profile/du-pont/?sh=72eae52d253b
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orsini-family
• https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/romeo-and-juliet/
• Image 1: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Album_Le_Turf_-_Le_Prince_Troubetzkoy,_la_Baronne_Alphonse_de_Rothschild,_le_Baron_Gustave_de_Rothschild,_le_Marquis_Boni_de_Castellane,_Monsieur_Emile_Deschamps.jpg
• Image 2: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornelius_Vanderbilt_three-quarter_view_(cropped).jpg