Romanus
An ethnonym indicating someone of Roman origin or ancestry.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Romanus. That puts it at #121,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Romanus surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#121,590
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
142
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 142 bearers of the surname Romanus in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 121590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Romanus, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Romanus
The surname ROMANUS is of Latin origin, with its roots dating back to ancient Rome. It likely emerged during the Roman Empire as a way to identify individuals who were citizens of Rome or had some connection to the city.
The name ROMANUS is derived from the Latin word "Romanus," which means "Roman" or "of Rome." It was commonly used as a cognomen (a third or additional name) in ancient Rome to indicate one's place of origin or cultural affiliation with the city.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROMANUS can be found in ancient Roman inscriptions and manuscripts. For example, the name appears in the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, a first-century account of the life and achievements of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
During the Middle Ages, the name ROMANUS continued to be used, particularly in areas with strong Roman influence or among individuals with ties to the Roman Catholic Church. It is mentioned in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.
Notable individuals who bore the surname ROMANUS include Gaius Petronius Romanus, a Roman senator and consul in the 2nd century AD. Another prominent figure was Anicius Olybrius Romanus, a Roman emperor who reigned briefly in the 5th century AD.
In the 12th century, there was a French theologian and philosopher named Peter Romanus, who played a significant role in the intellectual life of the University of Paris.
During the Renaissance, the surname ROMANUS was associated with the humanist scholar and writer Petrus Romanus, also known as Pietro Romano (1457-1508), who was born in Rome and made contributions to Latin literature.
Another notable bearer of the name was the Italian architect and sculptor Giovanni Romanus (1540-1630), who worked on various architectural projects in Rome and other Italian cities.
While the surname ROMANUS may have evolved into different spellings or variants over time, its connection to the ancient city of Rome and the Latin language remains a defining characteristic of its origin and meaning.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Romanus
Among Census respondents with the surname Romanus, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Romanus bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Romanus surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.0%
- Unknown or suppressed3.5%
- Hispanic or Latino3.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Romanus surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #108,153 | #121,590 | -12.4% |
| Count | 152 | 142 | -6.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.05 | -16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Romanus bearers went from 152 to 142 (-6.6% change). The surname moved down 13,437 positions in the national ranking, going from #108,153 to #121,590.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Romanus
FAQ
Romanus surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Romanus?
The surname Romanus holds position #121,590 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Romanus surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Romanus, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.