Surname Romano - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Historical and Cultural Tapestries of My Ancestry: Unveiling the Romano Heritage Through iGENEA DNA Testing

Eager to unlock the secrets of my ancestry, I took an iGENEA DNA test. The results are truly impressive, showcasing a history that spans the Roman Empire, ancient indigenous European tribes, and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. My surname, Romano, holds unexpected historical depth and cultural diversity, revealing a fascinating chronicle of human migration and evolution.

Y. Romano

Romano: What does the surname Romano mean?

The surname Romano is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin term "Romanus" which means "a Roman". This name was traditionally given to people from Rome, or someone who lived in places called Romano located in various regions within Italy. It also might have been used as a nickname for someone who had some notable Roman characteristics or connections. As such, it can be categorized under both locational and ethnic surnames. It can also symbolize historic connection to the Roman Empire. Since these surnames were often linked to geographical origins, the density of the Romano families are higher in the southern part of Italy, particularly in Sicily and Campania. Despite its specific origins, the global migration and dispersion of Italians resulted in the last name Romano being common in numerous countries around the world. Now, it is not uncommon to find individuals with the Romano surname in places like the United States, Argentina, and other countries with significant Italian immigrant populations.

Romano: Where does the name Romano come from?

Romano is a common last name throughout Italy, particularly in the southern region of the country. It is also common in other parts of the world, such as Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.

In Italy, Romano as a surname originated in Veneto, located in northern Italy and spread to the south. It originates from the Latin name Romanus, which means a citizen of Rome. Historically, Romans were a powerful people from ancient times. Romano is also thought to possibly come from the ancient Jewish name Rabbi Menachem, or possibly the Roman name of Romulus.

In Spain, Romano is not as common but is still found throughout the country, particularly in Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, and Valencia.

In Portugal, many people with the last name Romano migrated from Italy during the early part of the 20th century. Today, the name is found throughout the country but is more common in the northern cities and towns particularly.

In Argentina, Romano is found throughout the country, with more being found in the cities and surrounding areas.

In Brazil, Romano is not estremely widespread, as the majority of the population are of Portuguese or African descent.

In the United States, Romano is not overly common, although there is a significant presence of people with the surname in Florida, New York, New Jersey, California, and other areas of the Northeast.

Variations of the surname Romano

The surname Romano has many variants, spellings, and derivations. Most commonly, Romano is thought to derive from the Latin root Romanus, meaning “of or belonging to Rome”. Common variants of the surname include Romani, Romanelli, Romano, Romanin, Romanazzi, Romanucci, Romano, Romaniotti, Romaniello, and Romansky.

Less frequently used variants of the Romano surname include Romanishin, Romanov, Romanowicz, Romanovskaia, Romanowsky, Romanowicz, Romanovskii, Romanovsky, Romany, Romanenko, Romanova, Romanovskaya, Romanovskiy, Romanovska, and Romanovich.

Derivations of Romano, or surnames with a similar linguistic root, can also be seen in other languages. In Italian, Romano can be seen in spelling variants such as Romanelli, Romani, and Romanini. French variants include Romans, Romaneau, Romain, and Romand. Spanish and Portuguese versions of the surname include Romano, Romaní, Romano, Romani, Romao, Romanelli, and Romanel.

In some regions, including Spain and parts of Italy, a Matronymic version of the surname was adopted instead. This version has its roots in the custom of naming children after their mother or grandmother instead of their father or grandfather. Common Matronymic versions include Romanelli, Romanelli, Romanete, Romaniello, Romanazzi, and Romano.

This wide range of possible spellings and derivations make the task of researching the origin of the Romano surname a difficult, yet interesting, one. It is likely that each branch of the Romano family tree started their journey in a different part of the world, and encountered a linguistic evolution along the way.

Famous people with the name Romano

• Debra Romano: American actress
• Ray Romano: American actor, writer, and comedian
• Vincent Romano: American actor and singer
• John Romano: American playwright and screenwriter
• Rich Romano: American actor
• Ethan Romano: American wheelchair basketball player
• Chazz Romano: American actor
• John Romano Jr.: American actor
• Dario Romano: Italian politician
• Adrienne Romano: American actress
• Mary Romano: American singer-songwriter
• Cassandra Romano: American actress
• Ben Romano: American journalist
• Matteo Renzi: Former Prime Minister of Italy
• Monica Romano: Italian lawyer and jurist
• Diego Romano: Italian architect
• Gianni Romano: Italian singer
• Roberta Romano: Italian actress
• Gianluca Romano: Italian actor
• Bobo Romano: Italian football player

Other surnames

RomanRomanelliRomanelloRomaniRomanielloRomanovRomansRomanskiRomanusRomanyk