Rooney (surname)

Rooney
Pronunciation	/ˈruːni/
Languages	Irish, English
Origin
Language	Irish
Word/name	Ó Ruanaidh; Ó Maolruanaidh
Meaning	'descendant of Ruanaidh'
Region of origin	Republic of Ireland

Last updated October 12, 2025

Rooney is an Irish surname originating from County Down and the Provence of Connacht ^[5]. It may refer to the following people:

Art

Paul Rooney (artist), English visual and sound artist
Sally Rooney (born 1991), Irish author

Business

J. (John) Patrick Rooney, American businessman
Rooney Brothers, architects, builders and timber merchants in Queensland, Australia

Media

Andy Rooney (1919–2011), American journalist and commentator for CBS
Coleen Rooney (born 1986), British television presenter
John Rooney (sportscaster) (born 1954), American sportscaster
Mickey Rooney (1920–2014), American actor
Sharon Rooney (born 1988), Scottish actress
Sherry Rooney (born 1946), American actress, known for Love of Life

Music

Adam Rooney (born 1986), British rapper known professionally as Shotty Horroh
Cory Rooney, American songwriter and record producer
Jim Rooney (born 1938), American music producer
Joe Don Rooney (born 1975), country guitarist
Kate Rooney (singer), Australian contralto
Neil Rooney, drummer for The Polecats

Politics

Abigail Rooney, American politician
Francis Rooney (born 1953), current U.S. Congressman from Florida
Fred B. Rooney (1925–2019), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania
James Rooney (Canadian politician) (1897–1969), Canadian Member of Parliament
John J. Rooney (1903–1975), U.S. Congressman from New York
John Rooney (Irish politician), Irish Farmers's Party TD for Dublin County (1922–23)
Terry Rooney (politician) (born 1950), English Member of Parliament for Bradford North
T. J. Rooney (born 1964), member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives and chair of Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Tom Rooney (Florida politician) (born 1970), U.S. Congressman from Florida
Tom Rooney (Illinois politician) (born 1968), Illinois State Senator
William Rooney (Irish: Liam Ó Ruanaidh), Irish nationalist, journalist, poet and Gaelic revivalist

Sports

Rooney family, owners of American football team Pittsburgh Steelers
- Art Rooney, (1901–1988) founder and president of Pittsburgh Steelers (1933–1988)
- Dan Rooney (1932–2017), president of Pittsburgh Steelers (1975–2002) and U.S. ambassador to Ireland (2009–2012)
- Art Rooney II, (born 1951) president of Pittsburgh Steelers (2003–Present)
Adam Rooney (born 1988), Irish footballer
Declan Rooney (born 1983/1984), Irish Gaelic footballer
Giaan Rooney (born 1982), Australian swimmer and gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Jamie Rooney (born 1980), English rugby league player, currently with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Jamie Rooney (lacrosse) (born 1984), lacrosse player
Jim Rooney (born 1968), retired soccer player
John Rooney (footballer) (born 1990), English footballer
John Rooney (squash player) (born 1979), Irish squash player
Kate Rooney (born Kate Dennison, 1984), English pole vaulter
Kevin Rooney (born 1993), American ice hockey player
Luke Rooney (born 1983), Australian retired rugby league and rugby union player
Luke Rooney (footballer) (born 1990), English footballer
Martyn Rooney (born 1987), English sprinter
Sean Rooney (born 1982), American volleyball player
Shaun Rooney (born 1996), Scottish footballer
Terry Rooney (born 1973), American college baseball coach
Tom Rooney (racing driver) (1881–1939), American racing driver
Walter Rooney (1888–1965), professional ice hockey player for the Quebec Bulldogs
Wayne Rooney (born 1985), English football manager and former player

Other

Jane Rooney, New Zealand architect

References

↑ "Ruanadh — Database of Irish-language Surnames". Gaois research group. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
↑ Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2002). The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford University Press. p. 531. ISBN 0-19-860561-7.
↑ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). "Rooney". Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 425. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.Retrieved11 October 2024.
↑ Smith, Elsdon C. (1956). Dictionary of American family Names. New York: Harper and Bros. p. 182. OCLC 459620116.
↑ "Rooney Family History". FamilySearch.

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[1] "Ruanadh — Database of Irish-language Surnames". Gaois research group. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

[2] Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2002). The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford University Press. p. 531. ISBN 0-19-860561-7.

[3] Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). "Rooney". Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 425. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.Retrieved11 October 2024.

[4] Smith, Elsdon C. (1956). Dictionary of American family Names. New York: Harper and Bros. p. 182. OCLC 459620116.

[5] "Rooney Family History". FamilySearch.

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