Do you descend from royalty? Determining if your pedigree contains a gateway ancestor will help prove or disprove a royal connection!
Many Americans of colonial descent believe they are connected to royal or noble European lineages. While in many cases those lineages are accurate, most often they are not. Separating the fact from fiction of royal and noble pedigrees can ensure your genealogy is accurate and well sourced.
Gateway Ancestors of Royal and Noble Descent
A gateway ancestor is a person on your genealogical tree who descends from royalty or nobility. Most often they are from seventeenth-century colonial America and connect to the aristocracy of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, and other European countries.
Gateway ancestors of royal and noble descent have been the focus of intense genealogical and historical research. The vast majority of seventeenth-century American colonial gateway ancestors lived in Massachusetts and Virginia. Collaborative works have been published which prove many lineages while debunking others. Examples of such works are:
1. Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City, Utah: Douglas Richardson, 2011).
2. Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry 4 vols., (Salt Lake City, Utah: Douglas Richardson, 2011).
3. Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, 5 vols., (Salt Lake City, Utah: Douglas Richardson, 2013).
4. Frederick Lewis Weis, Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2004) available online at Ancestry.
5. The Complete Peerage of England. Scotland, Ireland, Great Britan, and the United Kingdom, all editions. First published in 1887. Some volumes are available for free on Archive.org.
6. Gary Boyd Roberts, The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2018) The 2004 edition of an earlier work, The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies is available online at Ancestry.
The newest work, published in 2018, is Gary Boyd Roberts’, The Royal Descents of 900 immigrants to the American Colonies, Quebec, or the United States, which notes 970 immigrants who have proven royal and noble lineages. Of that number, 489 settled in the American colonies and left descendants.
Various lineages societies have also compiled gateway ancestor lists. Such lists can be found in the Baronial Order of the Magna Charta and the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne websites.
Bogus Gateway Ancestors
The internet and online trees are plagued with bogus gateway ancestors. Many of the bogus claims have been disproven for decades, but the information persists. If your ancestor is not on the official gateway ancestor list check the sources of your tree to determine why. Red flags that suggest fictitious royal pedigrees include:
1. Common names: Many common surnames are plagued with false royal and noble lineages. Surnames such as Stewart, Randolph, West, Morgan, link to royal and noble lineages, but also to many fictitious family trees.
2. Sources: Always check your sources and do not accept hints from other trees as your sole verification. If the only sources linked to an online tree are other unsourced online trees or family history books, the lineage is most likely incorrect.
3. Dates: Make sure the lineage makes sense. If there is more than a 40-year gap between generations, there is most likely an error in the tree.
4. Country of origin: If the online tree has a sudden jump from one European country to another, the lineage is probably incorrect and most likely suffers from Same Name Syndrome.
5. Genealogical fraud: The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw a rise of genealogical trees fictitiously created for prominent families. False locations, wills, names, and documents were created to force lineages together. Be aware of these false pedigrees and do not use them as sources. Always locate original sources or works that cite original sources.
New Gateway Ancestors
One of the most difficult genealogical problems is connecting a new American or Canadian colonial ancestor with royal or noble connections in Europe. Occasionally documentation surfaces that links a connection to a previously-unknown gateway ancestor but most often that documentation is many hundreds of years old. The discovery of new documentation is rare but can exist.
Research to verify a new connection can take many hundreds of hours, assuming the line can be proven at all. Research in seventeenth-century Virginia and other parts of the south are especially challenging due to loss of records throughout the centuries. Records in medieval Europe are written in languages and script not decipherable to most, such as Anglo-Norman, Middle English, and Latin. It may be necessary to seek professional assistance when such a roadblock exists. Although time consuming, with careful, well-sourced research, it is possible for connections to gateway ancestors to be proven (or disproven) to ensure an accurate family pedigree.
Legacy Tree Genealogists can assist in organizing your family tree and separate the fact from fiction. Our team of expert professional genealogists is trained to spot fictitious pedigrees and search for documentation from original sources that can prove or disprove a lineage. Request your free quote today!
Dear Rebecca,
I would like to cite your article “Am I Related to Royalty?” Researching Gateway Ancestors in Your Family History,” and would like to know the proper way to do it. I an not of noble or royal descent, but a genealogist in the 1880’s wrote four books about some Pierce lines, linking some of to the House of Percy. His claims were fabricated, but so many people still use his work as a source. I would like to quote what you said about genealogical fraud, since it is my contention also. If I can quote a certified genealogist it will carry more weight.
Thank you,
Michael D Pierce
Hi Michael, please refer to our Terms of Service, section 3. Thank you!
I have discovered that I am direct descendant from the Plantagent line through my 13th great grandmother Alice Constable and her brother Sir Robert Constable is connected to the Lees of Virginia through Ann Lee Constable who escaped the Plague of London and was given safe passage to The New World by the King . She went on to marry into the Lee family who were Slave owners and had tabaco plantations (not too proud of that bit)
I was born in Kent England and have managed to trace my family through Essex then up to Suffolk, Norfolk in East Anglia (old vicking posts given to them by King Egbert in the 800s. They all ended up in Yorkshire which of course is famous for The war of the Roses between the house of York and Lancaster – It goes back as far as Rollo the viking who was the first Duke of Normandy and I have discovered that many of my ancestors came to England in 1066 from Britanny and Normandy as they were Nobles from that area, My family tree doesn´t start having royal connections until my ancestor Reverend Simon Canham´s father married Alice constable in 1545, From that date onwards its all clegry, landed gentry, right down to some being put in the workhouse in the 1790s. Its a story of riches to rags as many were executed for their religious beliefs and had their land confiscated and ended up with nothing, What goes up must come down!
Wow! What a fascinating family history!
What an illustrious lineage! Impressive. Do you have a title?
No as they are all extinct nobility, I do however have a very impressive DNA bloodline which goes from Portugal passing through 24 European countrries all the way to Russia and Kiev in The Ukraine and have managed to match every country with a royal house as there. . was a lot of interbreeding which means that all the royal houses of Europe are related past and present. If you are of Europen descent and go back far enough up to 60% of us have royal ancestry and common ancestors. i did 4 DNA test just to make sure and they all came back with the same results-
my whole family village here is exiled Russian.
They only speak old rite russian.
i tested my dna 95% match to Romanov,
my haplogroup is royalty.
Hi Tracy my ancestor William canham is your ancestor rev Simon canhams brother so we come from the same blood line going back in time. Are you on ancestry?
Kelly
Hi Kelly, according to my family tree Rev Simon Canham is my 10th grandfather. There is however a little confusion over who was his wife as on My Heritage they have hime.down as Marrying Alice Constable and Tomasin Swain but I have found his grave in Devon England and he seems to be buried with his Wife Marie who died before him, I was also in contact with Richard Canham in Cambridge as he is a direct descentant of William Canham and he told me that Rev Simon Canham married Alice Jackler who was the daughter of the Dean of Norwich So who is the real wife or did he marry a few times . I also discoverd that Simon only had one daughter who married into a noble family in Devon and there is a plaque on the church wall stating her name. Im related to the Canhams through my great great grandmother who was born in Essex around 1828 Eliza Baldry (nee Canham). My haplogroup is H3, have you done yours?¿ I´m registered on Ancestry but cant remember if I have my family tree on it. Im also on wiki tree,, living DNA and geneanet and have found out that I have many descendants of the Pilgrim fathers including William Brewster. If you need any info on the Canhams I have quite a lot.
Hi Tracy,
We are very distant relatives, I’m so glad you out up this information as it confirms that my research is correct. My line also starts from about Alice constable I’d have to double check my tree.
Can anyone provide me with evidence that Alice Constable existed? It appears she was “created” as a gateway relative who can put a lot of famous people in a family tree. There is no evidence that Simon Canham married Alice Constable. The only Alice I can find that he DID marry, was Alice Jackler.
Tracy, it’s just history; no need to apologize. I hope you are living your life on the up and up. You need to realize that bad things happen, and we get on with our lives by trying to live in an appropriate manner.
Some of the people who were enslaved were better off in the Americas than in their native country. Someone like Frederick Douglas would not have even existed if his ancestor/s had not been brought to America.
I’ve come to realize this over the years as I have researched my family lines.
I call my 24th great-gf King John ‘bad King John’ but if not for him and his dalliance with a female ‘girlfriend’ I would not be here. I am descended from his natural daughter Joan/Siwan (Welsh name) wife of Llewelyn ‘Fawr’ ap Iorweth. I am proud of everyone of my ancestors – the good and the bad. Just glad I got the ‘good’ gene.
Good luck on your research.
Linda Alcott Maples
I wish you could tell me more about Alice Constable. Do you have any records or sources related to her?
Simon Canham of Ashill married Alice Jackler of Lowestoft, Norfolk ( I found the marriage record)
I can not find any evidence of the existence Alice Constable and if she was married at any time to Simon Canham, I would like to see the evidence of it.
He name pops up in many of my family trees of famous people I am Supposed to be related to, and I really have my doubts she is real.
I have done another DNA test with living DNA which gives you your haplogroup Mine is H3 which has many nobility from French, German Dutch nobility and according to my modern DNA (1500- present) I do have Dutch , Frank, flanders and German DNA I have also discovered that on my mothers´side there are Romany gypies as my grandfather was from NW India( Cashmir) and they left India 1000 years ago and traveled to Eastern Europe and Finland and even Tryansylvania . On the English side I have discovered many of them were Pilgrim fathers from the SouthWest of England from Cornwall and Devon .. On the Irish OBrien side I am descended from The Irish King Brian Boru and through DNA matches have been in contact with people who have the same ancestors and can confirm that they too are descended from Irish royalty. Basically my modern DNA is Irish from my father and Anglo/Irish/Indian /African from my mother.. On the African side my great great grandfather was born in Jamaica in 1837, Joined the Royal Navy in 1857 (jamaica was part of the British commonwealth) and retired after 20 years service and came to Harwich Essex England and met my English Great Great grandmother . I managed to get hold of his discharge papers from the Kew Archives in London and it even describes how he looked and how tall he was. Unfortuantly I dont have any photos and he died in 1897.According to my Dna his ancestors were origianlly from Sudan, Kenya, South Africa and the West Coast where many where taken into slavery in the 18th century,Hisname was William Alexander Francis and through other DNA matches I have discovered that there is a French and Scottish connection probably from the Sinclairs of Orkney and Shetland (they had a castle and were said to have kept the holy grail there before it was stolen). My mothers Indian father was also in the Royal Indian Navy and was a Cheif Petty Officer so have nautical connections on the maternal sied. DNA matches are the best was of putting the puzzle together as many have family trees which can help confirm your findings.
Agreed! DNA can help solve many family history mysteries!
I had a DNA test done by Ancestry & it didn’t reveal all of this much info. What test are you all using? Thanks!
Hi Diane, thanks for reaching out. We believe one of our researchers who specialize in DNA could help you figure this out. Please contact our Client Solutions Specialists through the form on our Get in Touch page. They can point you in the right direction based on your questions or provide a free estimate if research is needed to help you achieve your goals.
Hello! My Father’s mtDNA is H3 as well. This line is a roadblock for me. We know who my GG Grandmother is. We have her picture, obituary, everything BUT who her parents were. We have her birthdate and place. No parental names. Her maiden name was Jones. Yea…one of the worst names to have a roadblock. ;-). How far back can you go on your direct maternal line? Like I said, our ends at Rebecca Jones-Doty b 1818 in Johnstown, PA.
How far we can go back on the maternal line depends on a great many things, but we specialize in breaking down roadblocks with the more common last names. I would like to get you in touch with one of our genealogists. Please go to our contact page and fill out the form or give us a call.
Hello all,
I too am from royalty. I think that I am the next Queen, or should be. Very long, sad story. Too long for here.
Please tell us about it! If you would like to get this proof in writing, consider letting us do a research project for you. We would love to help you document this, but we would need some additional information. Please contact us by filling out the form on our home page http://www.legacytree.com. We can point you in the right direction and give you a free estimate if research is needed
Hi Eric, I am interested in help with my lineage. How does this work and what is the cost?
Hello Monica,
Thank you for reaching out – we would love to help you! Please contact us by filling out the form on our home page. Our team of expert genealogists can discover your story and give you a free estimate if research is needed.
Anyone who has European ancestors will no doubt find that somewhere down the line whether it be 200 years or 2000 years , they are related to royalty through a common ancestor. Recently I discovered that my father has a 3rd cousin who is directly related to Leoploldo the King of Beglium who in turn is related to royalty in Holland and even the Romonofs in Russia and its because his gtrandfather´s father turned out to be royalty, I also suspect that my Irish father has Dutch DNA probably because of the Hugonaghts who fled Holland and came to Ireland sometime in the 17th century, My mother also has Dutch . Russian. Austrian and German and is haplogroup H3 (my father is haplogroup R1b )which is the same as many monarchs from Germany, Austria and Belgium so maybe she has a common ancestor who is related to royalty too. but I havent found the connection yet.
Hi Tracey,
It is exciting to learn about our heritage! If you are looking for help connecting some dots, our Client Solutions Specialists could certainly help you figure this out. They would pull our current data together and combine that with other DNA resources to fill in some of the blanks for you. Please contact us for an estimate on research.
Hi, I have been reading all your comments after finding out on Ancestry.com that I related to many generations of French Nobility, and some Royalty. I don’t know what Halpogroup is? There is a lot to learn about this! I have read so much already about so many ancestors, and their incredible stories.
Hello, Karen! Such a great question. You can learn more about haplo groups and other DNA tips in our DNA 101 blog post here.
Lady Ellen Helen Neville is my 11th great grandmother. My 6th great grampa married one of her descendants. Lady Ellen has a nickname, Royal Line Ellen.
Related to a bunch of Neville’s. Have at last count 5 lines going to King Edward III through John of Gaunt and also his brother Thomas of Woodstock. One of my Dad’s German’s lines goes to Landgraf Philipp I of Hesse a leader of the Protestant Reformation and a supporter of Martin Luther. Through him related to the Brit German Kings from George I on up to Elizabeth II and her grand children. Cousins. Edward III is a 17th great grandfather. I was named after Geoffrey Chaucer, Court Poet and an in law to that family. Both my father and mother have lines going to Edward III.
If Martin Luther hadn’t given a dispensation to Landgraf Philipp to marry my 12great granny and stay married to his first wife at the same time I and a couple of hundred thousand other folks wouldn’t be here.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Frank! Such great stories in each of these threads!
I’ve been digging into my family tree and it looks like I have a direct dual lineage to both the Plantagenets and the Stuarts.
On my maternal side, it seems King Henry III is my 22nd great-grandfather, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, is my 19th great-grandfather — so I seem to have ties to both the York and Lancaster branches. On my dad’s side, I might be connected to the Stuarts through the Drummond line, possibly tying back to Annabella Drummond or her siblings.
My DNA results seem to back this up too. My maternal haplogroup is K1c1, and my paternal first cousin’s haplogroup is R-Z225 — which I’ve read is linked to early European and noble lines. I also have 223 Neanderthal variants, which seems on the higher side.
It feels kind of crazy — doesn’t everyone think they’re descended from royalty at some point? But if this is legit, it seems pretty rare to have both rival houses represented.
Curious if anyone else has come across something like this or has thoughts on how to confirm it!