Documentation for the Romine Coat of Arms design can be found in Burke’s General Armory. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms. In their language, the arms (shield) is as: “Argent on a fess gules three crosses pattee or.” Above the shield and helmet is the Crest which is described as: “a deer’s head erased proper.” A helmet with closed vizor is shown resting on top of the shield. The “arms” registered are those of Sir Thomas Romayne.
The motto was: “Audeo,” a Latin word for …. to dare, venture, risk
Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were: occupation, location, father’s name, or personal characteristics. The surname Romine appears to be locational in origin, and is believed to be associated with the English, meaning, “one who had made a pilgrimage to Rome or one who came from Rome.” The supplementary sheet included with this report is designed to give you more information to further your understanding of the origin of names. Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. Dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spelling variations of Romine to be Rome, Romain, Romaine, Roman, Romans, Romayne, Romayn, Romanes and Romines.
Although bearers of the old and distinguished Romine name comprise a small fraction of the population there are a number who have established for it a significant place in history. They include:
- NICHOLAS ROMINE (Romayne) (1756-1817) American physician and medical educator who received his M.D. from Edinburgh in 1780; practiced and taught medicine in New York; was implicated in Blount Conspiracy of 1797; served as the first President of the Medical Society of the City and County of New York in 1806; and , was the founder of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, serving as President and Professor until 1816.
- JOHAN HELMICH ROMINE (Roman) (1694-1758) Swedish violinist and composer who was often referred to as the “Father of Swedish Music”; composed several symphonies, suites, festivals and church music, violin concertos and many others; and, was during his lifetime an associate of Handel and Geminiani and was appointed the ‘intendent’ of music to the Swedish Court.
- ANDRE BIENVENU ROMINE (Roman) (b. 1795-1866) Louisiana legislator who was an outstanding member of the “Whig Party”; served as the Governor of Louisiana for two non-consecutive terms, once between 1831 and 1835 and again in 1839 until 1843; throughout his political life he fostered efforts at flood control, public schools and international improvements.
- BERNARD ROMINE (Romans) (b. 1720-1784) Civil engineer, naturalist, cartographer and soldier who came to America around 1757; was appointed Deputy Surveyor of Georgia in 1766; was employed by the New York Committee of Safety in 1775 to construct fortifications on the Hudson River. Among his publications, the most noted is, “A Concise Natural History of East and West Florida.”