Pecorino is one of the oldest Italian cheeses, it is said to have been known more than 2000 years ago. Its history thus begins around Rome and particularly in the Lazio region where most of the shepherds lived there. It is from the milk of sheep from the shepherds that this cheese was born. Over time, this cheese was popularized by Roman legionaries who always took it as a snack when traveling through Italy and Europe.

Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty Italian cheese, often used for grating, made with sheep's milk. The name "pecorino" simply means "ovine" or "of sheep" in Italian; the name of the cheese, although protected, is a simple description rather than a brand: "pecorino romano" is simply "sheep's of Rome".