NameCensus.

UK surname

Roome

A locational surname originating from a place name meaning a clearing or open place in a wood.

In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Roome surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,090, ranked #5,370, up from #6,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, St Alkmund and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roome is 1,177 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.6%.

1881 census count

575

Ranked #6,056

Modern count

1,090

2016, ranked #5,370

Peak year

1999

1,177 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roome had 575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,090 in 2016, ranked #5,370.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,088 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Roome surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roome surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roome 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 321 #7,938
1881 historical 575 #6,056
1891 historical 748 #5,323
1901 historical 888 #5,193
1911 historical 1,088 #4,264
1997 modern 1,133 #4,945
1998 modern 1,172 #4,975
1999 modern 1,177 #5,012
2000 modern 1,162 #5,038
2001 modern 1,153 #4,979
2002 modern 1,168 #5,020
2003 modern 1,139 #5,034
2004 modern 1,128 #5,079
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,070 #5,245
2007 modern 1,099 #5,192
2008 modern 1,088 #5,266
2009 modern 1,112 #5,277
2010 modern 1,154 #5,223
2011 modern 1,139 #5,222
2012 modern 1,103 #5,282
2013 modern 1,113 #5,317
2014 modern 1,126 #5,299
2015 modern 1,118 #5,279
2016 modern 1,090 #5,370

Geography

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Where Roomes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, St Alkmund, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 St Alkmund Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 021 Derby
2 Derby 008 Derby
3 Derby 015 Derby
4 Derby 009 Derby
5 Derby 013 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roome

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roome

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Roome surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Roome 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Roome is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roome is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roome falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roome is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Roome

The surname Roome has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "rum," meaning "spacious" or "roomy." This suggests that the name may have originally been used to describe someone who lived in a large or spacious dwelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273 mention a William Romme, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301 reference a John Romme.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be related to the Roome surname. For example, the village of Romene in Berkshire and the manor of Romenel in Wiltshire are mentioned, possibly indicative of place names from which the surname could have derived.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has evolved, with various variations such as Romme, Roome, and Rume appearing in historical records. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the places where the name was prevalent, as well as local dialects and pronunciation differences.

Notable individuals bearing the Roome surname include:

1. Nicholas Roome (c. 1470-1534), an English merchant and politician who served as Sheriff of London in 1529. 2. Ralph Roome (c. 1600-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. John Roome (1770-1847), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Edward Roome (1825-1904), an American industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Roome & Burroughs Manufacturing Company in New York. 5. Sydney Roome (1902-1965), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

While these are just a few examples, the Roome surname has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roome families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roome 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. Derbyshire leads with 229 Roomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.99x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 229 25.99x
Yorkshire 66 1.18x
Middlesex 58 1.03x
Kent 27 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 27 3.56x
Hertfordshire 21 5.41x
Lancashire 17 0.25x
Warwickshire 17 1.20x
Surrey 16 0.58x
Staffordshire 12 0.63x
Leicestershire 11 1.76x
Essex 10 0.90x
Worcestershire 10 1.36x
Gloucestershire 9 0.82x
Hampshire 8 0.69x
Norfolk 7 0.81x
Sussex 7 0.74x
Durham 4 0.24x
Flintshire 4 2.64x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.84x
Bedfordshire 2 0.69x
Berkshire 2 0.47x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.61x
Lincolnshire 2 0.22x
Somerset 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Rutland 1 2.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Alkmund in Derbyshire leads with 67 Roomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.69x.

Place Total Index
Derby St Alkmund 67 253.69x
Derby St Werburgh 63 123.82x
Derby St Peter 36 128.25x
St Pancras London 17 3.75x
Hackney London 15 4.75x
Bulwell 12 72.77x
Sheffield 12 6.76x
Barnsley 11 19.12x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 11 57.65x
Deptford St Paul 11 7.43x
Nottingham St Mary 11 5.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 5.46x
Breadsall 10 980.39x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 8.82x
Bexley 9 53.00x
St Albans 9 113.21x
Birmingham 8 1.69x
Horsley 8 150.94x
Aston 7 1.79x
Derby All Sts 7 95.11x
Foulden 7 786.52x
Mirfield 7 22.86x
Rickmansworth 7 65.54x
South Bersted 7 86.74x
Walthamstow 7 17.50x
Alfreton 6 22.41x
Battersea 6 2.90x
Mickleover 6 220.59x
Rawmarsh 6 30.46x
Hugglescote 5 54.47x
Litchurch 5 14.10x
Mark Eaton 5 375.94x
Newington 5 2.40x
Stourbridge 5 26.44x
Worcester St Martin 5 50.40x
Aldershot 4 10.35x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.64x
Camberwell 4 1.11x
Fulham London 4 4.90x
Islington London 4 0.73x
Mackworth 4 816.33x
Mold 4 29.15x
Orell Ford 4 325.20x
St George In East 4 10.45x
Woodchester 4 229.89x
Abbots Langley 3 52.08x
Atherton 3 12.34x
Everton 3 1.41x
Fryerning 3 220.59x
Hucknall Torkard 3 15.59x
North Meols 3 4.59x
Sherburn 3 58.82x
Unstone 3 86.71x
Westminster St 3 14.46x
Wyke In Bradford 3 30.09x
Alton 2 23.02x
Birkenhead 2 2.02x
Chelsea London 2 1.18x
Edgbaston 2 4.54x
Frome 2 9.23x
Glenfield 2 165.29x
Handsworth 2 13.57x
Hartshorn 2 60.06x
Hoo 2 78.43x
Kirkham 2 22.65x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 2 70.42x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.31x
Paddington London 2 0.97x
Portsea 2 0.88x
Repton 2 60.06x
Soham 2 26.08x
St Albans St Peter 2 15.28x
St Martin Lincoln 2 23.95x
Stroud 2 9.31x
Sunninghill 2 34.13x
West Derby 2 1.02x
Bedford St Peter 1 13.21x
Foots Cray 1 27.17x
Huddersfield 1 1.23x
Linton 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 19
Emma 16
Alice 13
Annie 12
Ann 9
Anne 9
Hannah 9
Eliza 8
Caroline 7
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Jane 7
Kate 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Cecilia 2
Clara 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Phebe 2
Phoebe 2
Bella 1
Ben 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Charity 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Janie 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Lottie 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 34
George 26
Thomas 24
Henry 15
Charles 13
Joseph 13
Samuel 11
James 9
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Isaac 5
David 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Abram 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Adolphus 2
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Godfrey 2
Josiah 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Archibald 1
Christopher 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Fredrick 1
Henrietta 1
Hugh 1
Jas.H. 1
Jasper 1
Jno.N. 1
Leonard 1
Leslie 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Oscar 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Roome surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roome surname in 1881?

In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Roome surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roome surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,090 in 2016. That gives Roome a modern rank of #5,370.

What does the Roome surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place name meaning a clearing or open place in a wood.

What does the Roome map show?

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