First found in Italy, where bearers of Romeo inhabited almost every part of Italy, but the name is more common closer to Rome, though rare in Rome itself. This is related to the meaning of the name, which means "man from Rome." Obviously, this name would be redundant for someone living in Rome; rather, it was given as an identifying name for people who once lived in Rome and moved elsewhere. The variations ending in "i" are from the north, while those ending in "o" are from the south.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Salvatore Romeo, 35; who came to New York in 1893; and Pietro Romeo, 19; who arrived in Ottawa, Ontario in 1913.

For more information on the last name Romeo, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.