The Rooney surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 16,823 people carried this name — #2,156 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,500 people counted. That is up 24% from 13,527 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Rooney surname

Anglicised from Irish Ó Ruanaidh (“descendant of a person named Champion”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Rooney» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 119 births for the Rooney name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 5,300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 43
Connacht 37
Leinster 36
Munster 3

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 80 people named Rooney live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 40
Santa Fe 21
City of Buenos Aires 19

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Scotland’s registers today

Rooney was recorded 86 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 306th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 92. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Rooney in American newspapers,
1914–1918.

Newspaper page from The Milwaukee Leader carrying the name Rooney
The Milwaukee Leader 1918-01-18
Newspaper page from The Ocala Evening Star carrying the name Rooney
The Ocala Evening Star 1914-04-09
Newspaper page from The Ocala Evening Star carrying the name Rooney
The Ocala Evening Star 1914-07-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,106 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Rooney in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

37,693 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Rooney. The most, 6,504, date from the 1940s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 14,510
Queensland 7,333
Victoria 5,499
South Australia 4,551
Western Australia 3,661
Tasmania 1,339
ACT (Canberra) 287
Northern Territory 61

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Rooney.

Who carried it

People named Rooney,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Pat Rooney
    Pat Rooney 1844–1892 · actor
  • William Rooney
    William Rooney 1873–1901
  • Pat Rooney
    Pat Rooney 1880–1962 · actor
  • Julia Rooney
    Julia Rooney 1887–1990 · performing artist
  • Art Rooney
    Art Rooney 1901–1988 · businessperson

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 219 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Rooney,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States7,006 records

7,006 records of the Rooney name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 2,736
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,888
  • Other U.S. records 2,382
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Fred P. Rooney

    Born 1897 in Irish Free State. Enlisted 1942 at Columbus, Ohio; filling station attendant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1958, buried at Dayton National Cemetery, Ohio.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Robert Frederick Rooney

    Born 1931; from New York, New York. U.S. Marine Corps; killed in action 1952 in Korea. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Kate Rooney

    Arrived at New York in 1884 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 16; servant. From Letrim, Ireland; bound for Brooklyn.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 7,006 records for Rooney in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,098 records

1,098 records of the Rooney name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 377
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 250
  • Other Australian records 471
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Rooney

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Earl Grey, sailing from Kingston in 1849. Native of Downpatrick, Down. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Bridget Rooney

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Greenlaw, sailing from Dublin in 1844. Native of Mullingar, Westmeath. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 36.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Rooney

    Died 1912 in North Esk River, Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1912.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,098 records for Rooney in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada163 records

163 records of the Rooney name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 94
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 23
  • Other Canadian records 46
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Catharine Rooney

    Came to Ontario in 1878 aboard the Brooklyn, landing at Quebec, bound for Brantford, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Ottie Rooney

    Killed in 1918 at the Springhill No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Charles Francis Rooney

    Buried in 1971 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 68.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 163 records for Rooney in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom51 records

51 records of the Rooney name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 23
  • Stirling Council burial records 20
  • Other British records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Christopher Rooney

    Died 1957, aged 73; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Rooney

    Buried in 1818 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 75.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Benjamin Rooney

    Will proved in 1938; of Llanbedrog, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 51 records for Rooney in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Ireland25 records

25 records of the Rooney name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Nicholas Rooney

    Died 1730, aged 37; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Francis Rooney

    Died 1907, aged 85; buried at Killererin (Old), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Peter Rooney

    Died 1847, aged 66; buried at Athenry Heritage Centre, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 25 records for Rooney in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand18 records

18 records of the Rooney name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 16
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Thomas Rooney

    Died 1986, aged 62; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Patrick Rooney

    Died 1971, aged 65; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Irvine Douglas Rooney

    Died 1995, aged 59; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Rooney in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France7 records

7 records of the Rooney name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Cyrille Rooney

    Born 1920 in Paris; died 2000 in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mary Rooney

    Born 1909 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Rooney in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Rooney name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Bernard Francis Rooney

    In the population register of Kilchief co Down; student, born 1912 in Kilchief co Down.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Gezina Bregijtta Maria Rooney

    Married in 1928 in Hoek van Holland.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Rooney in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Rooney.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Rooney is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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