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

Romaya, 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 Romaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Romaya in America

Romaya is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Romaya surname appeared 131 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 Romaya.

The history of the last name Romaya

The surname ROMAYA has its origins in the northern regions of Spain, specifically in the Basque Country and Navarre. It is believed to have emerged in the 11th or 12th century, during the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. The name is derived from the Basque word "romaya," which means "pilgrim" or "one who travels to Rome." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who made pilgrimages to the holy city of Rome.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the ROMAYA surname can be found in the cartularies of the Monastery of Leyre, a Benedictine abbey located in Navarre. These medieval manuscripts, dating back to the 12th century, contain references to individuals bearing the name ROMAYA, indicating their presence in the region during that time period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Juan ROMAYA was mentioned in chronicles as a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Vitoria, in the Basque province of Alava. His descendants continued to use the surname, contributing to its spread throughout the region.

During the 16th century, the name ROMAYA appeared in various documents related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. One such individual was Pedro ROMAYA, a soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 1500s.

Another noteworthy figure was María ROMAYA, a Basque noblewoman who lived in the 17th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of religious institutions in the region.

In the 19th century, a prominent writer and journalist named Javier ROMAYA gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the Basque cultural renaissance. He was born in 1825 in the town of Rentería and died in 1892.

The ROMAYA surname has also been associated with several place names in the Basque Country and Navarre, such as the village of Romaya in the municipality of Zuia, and the Romaya Valley in the province of Navarre. These place names may have contributed to the formation and spread of the surname over time.

While the ROMAYA surname has its roots in the Basque region of Spain, it has since been carried by individuals and families to various parts of the world, including Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries, as well as other parts of Europe and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Romaya

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

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 Romaya 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.

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

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

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