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

Romance, 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 Romance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Romance in America

Romance is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Romance surname appeared 245 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Romance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Romance 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 Romance

The surname Romance is derived from the Old French word "romanz", meaning the vernacular language spoken in France during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in Normandy, a region in northern France, sometime between the 10th and 12th centuries.

During this period, the French language was evolving from its Latin roots, and the term "romance" was used to refer to the spoken language of the common people, as opposed to the Latin used by scholars and the clergy. The surname may have been initially given to individuals who spoke or wrote in this vernacular language, distinguishing them from those who used Latin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name "Romance" appears in the records for Cambridgeshire, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Romance was a prominent landowner and knight in Northamptonshire, England. His name is mentioned in several court records and charters from that period.

Another early bearer of the surname was John Romance, a scholar and poet who lived in the late 14th century. He is credited with writing several works in the vernacular French language, contributing to the development of literature during the Middle Ages.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Romance was associated with several artists and intellectuals. One such individual was Pietro Romance, an Italian painter and architect who lived in the 15th century and was renowned for his work on various churches and palaces in Rome and Florence.

In the 17th century, a French nobleman named Charles Romance served as a military commander during the Thirty Years' War. He played a significant role in several battles and was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another notable figure was Robert Romance, an English philosopher and writer who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his works on ethics and political theory, and his ideas influenced the Enlightenment movement.

Throughout history, the surname Romance has been present across Europe, particularly in France, England, and Italy. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, it continues to be a recognizable surname in various parts of the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Romance

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

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 Romance 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 Romance 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 Romance was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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