Romney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Romney

What does the name Romney mean?

Romney is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Romney family lived in Kent, at New Romney, or Old Romney parishes and locals that date back to at least the Domesday Book where they were collectively known as Romenel. 1 In fact, Old Romney may be older: "The town had a good and much frequented haven prior to the Conquest; but in the reign of Edward III. " 2

Early Origins of the Romney family

The surname Romney was first found in Kent where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Romney, anciently Romenel. "[New Romney], the name of which is probably derived from the Saxon Rumen-ea, "a large watery expanse, or marsh," arose from the decay of Old Romney. At the time of the Conquest it was a town of considerable importance, divided into twelve wards, and containing five parochial churches." 2 At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England, the village of Romney was held by a Norman noble, Robert de Romenel, de Rumenae and as was the Norman custom, the second son of the family adopted the name of the village. 3

Early History of the Romney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Romney research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1593, 1601 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Romney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Romney Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Rumney, Rumnie, Romney, Romny, Romenel, Rumenel, Romnay and many more.

Early Notables of the Romney family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Romney of Kent

Romney migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Romney or a variant listed above were:

Romney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Romney, aged 19, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Speedwell"

Romney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Romney, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767

Romney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Auguota Romney, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1893
Axel Romney, aged 23, who settled in America from London, in 1898

Romney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Cecil Romney, aged 28, who landed in America from Kingston, in 1906
Elizabeth Romney, aged 26, who settled in America from Grays, England, in 1907
Annie Romney, aged 30, who landed in America from Manchester, England, in 1909
Annie M. Romney, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from South Stafford, England, in 1916
Alice Romney, aged 64, who immigrated to America from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1920
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Romney migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Romney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

G. K. Romney, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1880 4
Thomas Romney, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1880 4
H. Romney, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1880 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Romney (post 1700) +

Vernon Bradford Romney (1924-2013), American politician, 14th Attorney General of Utah (1969-1977)
Willard Mitt Romney (b. 1947), Republican politician, former Governor of Massachusetts, candidate for U.S. President, son of George W. Romney
Carl F Romney, American Seismologist, Virginia
Lenore Romney (1908-1998), American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1970 5
Kenneth Romney (1885-1952), American Democratic Party politician, Sergeant-at-Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1931-47 5
Jean A. Romney, American politician, Member of Virgin Islands legislature, 1975-76 5
George Wilcken Romney (1907-1995), American Republican politician, Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from 12th Senatorial District, 1961-62; Governor of Michigan, 1963-69; Resigned 1969 5
George Scott Romney (b. 1941), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State University board of trustees, 2000-; Appointed 2000; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 2012 5
Edgar O. Romney, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1996, 2000 5
Craig Romney (b. 1981), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2012 5
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html