NameCensus.

UK surname

Romero

A Spanish toponymic surname indicating someone from a place abundant with rosemary plants or where pilgrimages to Rome began.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Romero surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 626, ranked #8,424, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Romero is 626 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31200.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

626

2016, ranked #8,424

Peak year

2016

626 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Romero had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016, ranked #8,424.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Romero surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Romero surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Romero 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 297 #13,623
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 331 #13,045
2001 modern 331 #12,869
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 349 #12,435
2004 modern 362 #12,155
2005 modern 395 #11,292
2006 modern 417 #10,886
2007 modern 418 #10,976
2008 modern 444 #10,535
2009 modern 471 #10,304
2010 modern 512 #9,870
2011 modern 527 #9,584
2012 modern 569 #8,942
2013 modern 591 #8,837
2014 modern 599 #8,816
2015 modern 605 #8,678
2016 modern 626 #8,424

Geography

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Where Romeros 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire, Southampton and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 015 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Carmarthenshire 026 Carmarthenshire
3 Southampton 023 Southampton
4 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Bath and North East Somerset 007 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Romero

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Romero

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Romero, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Romero surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Romero household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Romero is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Romero 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

Romero 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 Romero 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 Romero, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Romero

The surname Romero is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "romarius," meaning a pilgrim to Rome. It dates back to the Middle Ages when many Spaniards undertook pilgrimages to Rome, and those who made the journey were called "romeros."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 13th century in regions of Spain such as Castile, Andalusia, and Aragon. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sancho Romero, a nobleman and military commander who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors in the late 12th century.

The Romero name is also associated with several place names in Spain, such as Romero de Torres in Badajoz, and Romero de Arriba in Soria. These places likely derived their names from early settlers with the surname Romero.

In the 15th century, the Romero family gained prominence in Seville, where they were involved in the Spanish Inquisition. One notable figure was Fray Tomás de Romero, a Dominican friar who served as an Inquisitor in Seville from 1498 to 1528.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Juan Romero, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Romero played a crucial role in the Battle of Otumba in 1520, helping to ensure the Spanish victory.

In the 17th century, the Romero name appeared in various literary works, such as the plays of Lope de Vega and the poetry of Francisco de Quevedo. One notable figure from this period was Jerónimo Romero de Ávila, a Spanish painter and engraver active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 19th century, the Romero name gained further recognition with the birth of Matías Romero (1837-1898), a Mexican diplomat and politician who served as Mexico's Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

Throughout history, the Romero surname has been carried by numerous other notable individuals, including César Romero (1907-1994), an American actor best known for his portrayal of the Joker in the 1960s Batman TV series, and Cesar Romero (1907-1994), a Cuban-American singer and actor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Romero families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Romero 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. Berkshire leads with 1 Romeros recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.97x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 1 68.97x
Kent 1 15.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 1 Romeros recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.

Place Total Index
Greenwich 1 322.58x
Old Windsor 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Rafael 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 Romero households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Romero surname: questions and answers

How common was the Romero surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Romero surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Romero surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016. That gives Romero a modern rank of #8,424.

What does the Romero surname mean?

A Spanish toponymic surname indicating someone from a place abundant with rosemary plants or where pilgrimages to Rome began.

What does the Romero map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Romero 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.