Show ContentsRome History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rome family

The surname Rome was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat some say from about the 12th century. Seated at Gretna, they early became friends and allies of the great Clan Johnston and later as the numbers of the Clan diminished they held under them for protection. Nevertheless, the Roomes were a Clan in their own right and had a Chief. They were registered in Scottish Parliament as a clan in 1597 and responsible for the defense of Annandale, against the English.

Early History of the Rome family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rome research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1638, 1770 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Rome History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rome Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rome, Room, Rooms, Roome, Roomes and others.

Early Notables of the Rome family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • George Rome, writer

Rome Ranking

In the United States, the name Rome is the 4,890th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Rome is ranked the 4,574th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2


United States Rome migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rome Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Nicholas Rome, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1750
  • Nickolas Rome, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 3
Rome Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ann Rome, who landed in New York in 1822 3
  • George Rome, who landed in New York in 1822 3
  • Jane Rome, who arrived in New York in 1822 3
  • John Rome, who landed in New York in 1822 3
  • Joseph Rome, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Rome migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rome Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Francois RoMe, who arrived in Montreal in 1653
Rome Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Edmund Rome, who landed in Canada in 1832

Contemporary Notables of the name Rome (post 1700) +

  • Sydne Rome (b. 1951), American actress
  • Richie Rome, born Richard V. Di Cicco, American conductor and producer
  • James Phillip "Jim" Rome (b. 1964), American sports radio talk show host
  • Harold Rome (1908-1993), American composer, lyricist, and writer for musical theater
  • Lewis B. Rome, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1972 4
  • Jean-François Rome, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 5
  • Albert Marie de Romé, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 6
  • Rome C. Stephenson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1900


The Rome Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pungit sed placit
Motto Translation: It is painful, but pleasing


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, August 27) Jean-François Rome. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  6. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, August 27) Albert Romé. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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