Last Names

Surnames / R

Romano

What is the origin of the last name Romano?

Italian originRank #1,219 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Romano finds its origins in Italy, derived from the Latin term "Romanus" meaning "Roman." It signifies an individual who either hailed from the city of Rome or had ties to ancient Roman culture. As an Italian surname, it likely emerged during the Middle Ages when surnames began to be adopted for identification purposes.

The longer story

The last name Romano is derived from the Latin word "Romanus," which means "of Rome" or "Roman." It is a toponymic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from or lived in Rome.

The Romano surname has Italian origins and is most commonly found in Italy. It is particularly common in the southern regions of Calabria, Campania, and Sicily. Many individuals with the Romano surname can be traced back to these regions.

The popularity of the Romano surname can also be attributed to migration and immigration patterns. As a result, the Romano surname can be found among Italian diaspora communities in countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Australia.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

Similar spellings

#1,219

Romano was the 1,219th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 29,018 people, about 10 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)84.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino12.3%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)0.5%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander1.5%
  • Two or more races0.8%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.1%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Romano.

Surnames like Romano

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.