NameCensus.

UK surname

Romani

A surname referring to someone from Rome or of Roman descent.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Romani surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, Bradford and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Romani is 125 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1288.9%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

2016

125 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Romani had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Romani surname distribution map

The map shows where the Romani surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Romani surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Romani over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 61 #31,526
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 59 #32,217
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 66 #31,821
2003 modern 64 #32,056
2004 modern 76 #31,125
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Romanis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newport, Bradford, Kirklees and Leeds. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newport 004 Newport
2 Bradford 027 Bradford
3 Kirklees 001 Kirklees
4 Leeds 039 Leeds
5 Bradford 043 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Romani

These lists show first names that appear often with the Romani surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Romani

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Romani, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Romani surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Romani household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Romani is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Romani is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Romani falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Romani is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Romani, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Romani

The surname Romani is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "romano," which means "Roman" or "from Rome." This suggests that the name was initially associated with people who either lived in or were from the city of Rome or the surrounding region.

One of the earliest known records of the Romani surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. The name appears in various forms, such as "Romanus" and "Romanius," indicating its ancient roots.

During the Renaissance period, the Romani surname gained prominence in Italy, particularly in Florence and other parts of Tuscany. Several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged during this time, including Filippo Romani (1495-1575), a renowned painter and architect who contributed to the design of the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

In the 16th century, the Romani family established themselves as wealthy merchants and bankers in the city of Lucca. One of the most prominent members of this family was Vincenzo Romani (1554-1612), a successful banker and patron of the arts who commissioned works from artists like Caravaggio.

Another notable figure with the Romani surname was Giovanni Romani (1765-1837), an Italian composer and music theorist who was highly regarded for his operas and sacred works. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, and his compositions were widely performed throughout Italy during his lifetime.

The Romani surname also spread beyond Italy and can be found in other parts of Europe, including France and Spain. In France, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in the 13th century, when a Romani family settled in the region of Provence.

Over the centuries, the Romani surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Romano d'Ezzelino, a town in the Veneto region of Italy, and Romanò, a commune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in different regions.

While the Romani surname has a rich history and can be traced back to ancient times, it is important to note that this report focuses solely on the surname itself and does not include information on its usage as a first or given name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Romani families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Romani surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Romanis recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 7 Romanis recorded in 1881 and an index of 1060.61x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 7 1060.61x
Clerkenwell London 2 96.62x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Romani surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Deborah 1
Esther 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Romani surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Abraham 1
David 1
Francesco 1
Henry 1
Hyam 1
Isaac 1
Vergoilo 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Romani households.

FAQ

Romani surname: questions and answers

How common was the Romani surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Romani surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Romani surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Romani a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Romani surname mean?

A surname referring to someone from Rome or of Roman descent.

What does the Romani map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Romani bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.