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Roma Family History

Roma Name Meaning

Italian: habitational name from the city of Rome (Italian Roma). Italian: from the female or male personal name Roma ‘Rome’ attested since the Middle Ages. Catalan (Romà): from the male personal name Romà from Latin Romanus (‘from Rome’; see Roman ). Spanish and Galician: habitational name from any of several places in Valencia and Galicia (Spain) named Roma of uncertain derivation.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Roman, Rota, Rama, Roda, Rosa, Rom, Roca, Poma, Roza, Cota

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Roma family from?

You can see how Roma families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Roma family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Roma families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 17 Roma families living in California. This was about 30% of all the recorded Roma's in USA. California had the highest population of Roma families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Roma surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Roma ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Roma. 34% of Roma men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Roma women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Roma were Proprietor and Saleslady. .

View Census Data for Roma | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    5%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Proprietor
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    10%
  • Waitress
    9%
  • Saleslady
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Roma family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Roma. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Roma census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Roma

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Roma. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Roma immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Roma. For the veterans among your Roma ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Roma military records

You've only scratched the surface of Roma family history

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What is the average Roma lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Roma life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Roma in 1945 was 36, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Roma

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Roma family tree

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