Find out how popular the last name Roman is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Roman.

Roman, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Roman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roman in America

Roman is the 452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roman surname appeared 72,918 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 25 people would have the surname Roman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roman to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Roman

The surname ROMAN has its origins in England, dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The name is derived from the Latin word "Romanus," which means "Roman" or "of Rome." It is believed to have been initially adopted as a surname by those who had migrated from Rome or who had some connection to the city.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROMAN can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use among the Anglo-Norman population during that period.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Robertus Romanus was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, indicating that Robertus Romanus held a position of importance and likely owned land or property.

During the 13th century, a notable individual named William Roman was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records that documented landholdings and legal disputes in various counties of England.

In the 14th century, the name ROMAN appeared in the records of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a person named John Roman was listed as a landowner. This further solidifies the presence of the name in different regions of England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname ROMAN was Sir William Roman, a prominent English soldier and diplomat who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He served under King Richard II and later became a member of the Privy Council during the reign of King Henry IV.

Another notable figure with the surname ROMAN was John Roman, an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who lived during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and served as a chaplain to King Edward VI.

In the 17th century, the name ROMAN was associated with the English philosopher and scientist, Robert Roman, who made contributions to the field of optics and was a member of the Royal Society.

Fast forward to the 18th century, and we find the Scottish poet and playwright, John Roman, who was born in Edinburgh in 1728. His works included several popular plays and poems that were widely acclaimed during his time.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir William Roman, a British diplomat and statesman who served as the Governor of Bombay and later became a member of the Privy Council. He played a crucial role in shaping British policies in India during the latter half of the century.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the surname ROMAN, which has been present in various regions of England and Scotland for centuries. The name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, diplomats, clergymen, philosophers, and writers, reflecting its enduring presence and significance throughout British history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roman

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Roman.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Roman was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Roman has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Roman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Roman, please contact us.

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