This unusual and interesting name has two possible origins, the first of which is from the Latin personal name "Romanus", itself originally an ethnic byname from "Roma", Roma. The given name was borne by several early saints, including a 7th Century bishop of Rouen, and although popular in northern France and thus introduced into England by the Normans, it was never common. The second possible origin for this surname is from the Old French "Romeyn" an ethnic name for someone from Rome, or from Italy in general, and it could also be a nickname for someone who had some connection with Rome, such as having visited the city on a pilgrimage. The surname development includes John Roman (1367, Essex), and George Romans (1636, Yorkshire), and the modern surname can be found as Roman, Romain(e) and Romayn(e), with the patronymic forms, indicating "son of Roman", Romans, Romaines and Romaynes. Among the recordings of the name in Yorkshire is that of the marriage of Thomas Romines and Dorathy Mattlersey at Holy Trinity, York, on January 23rd 1639. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Romayn, which was dated 1208, in the "Surrey Curia Rolls", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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