Romney

Romney is a toponymic surname and place name originating from Romney Marsh in Kent, England. The name refers to the geographic area and was later adopted as a surname for people from that region. It is borne by several notable individuals, including Mitt Romney (born 1947), an American politician who served as Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007) and was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012; he has served as a United States Senator from Utah since 2019. His father, George Romney (1907–1995), was an American businessman and politician who served as Governor of Michigan and led the auto company American Motors Corporation.

The name also designates geographic places in England. Old Romney and New Romney are historic villages on Romney Marsh, in the county of Kent. The Romney Marsh is a low-lying coastal region known for its distinctive ecology and historic churches. The area is served by the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, a heritage railway that traverses parts of the marsh. The term Romney is also associated with the Romney sheep, a traditional English breed developed from stock on the Romney Marsh.

In summary, Romney functions as both a surname tied to English place-names and as a geographic designation with historic and cultural associations in southeast England, as well as the surname of prominent American political figures.