ROMANO Origin of surname

ROMANO, ROMANER

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives.

There are several towns and villages in all parts of Europe called Roman and others whose names incorporate the syllable "Rom-", most prominently the Italian capital Roma/Rome, where Jews lived since Roman times. The Romanian town of Roman in Moldovia had Jewish inhabitants since the 15th/16th century.

Jewish family names in this group are also associated with the Romaniots, the original Jewish population in the territories of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, the Balkans and Asia Minor.

Romano is documented as a Jewish surname since the 14th century and Roman since the 16th century.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Romano include the 14th century Italian philosopher Judah Ben Moses Ben Daniel Romano, also known as Leone De Ser Daniel; the Bulgarian lawyer and Zionist leader Marco Romano (1872-1942); the Yugoslav writer and editor Samuel Romano (1906-1941); and the 20th century Bosnian Rabbi Menahem Romano.