The Origins of Rummy and Its Current Variations The card game rummy, which has enthralled players for centuries, has a lengthy and intricate history that daterummy all game lists back to the early 1800s. Rummy's precise beginnings are a little unclear, but it is generally accepted that it developed from earlier card games like the Mexican-originated Conquian. Because of its similar card-melding and card-disposal mechanics, Conquian is frequently considered the forerunner of modern Rummy.