Rooney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Rooney or a variant listed above, including:

Rooney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Edward Rooney, aged 30, who arrived in Norfolk, Va in 1803 4
• Brian Rooney, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 4
• John Rooney, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 4
• Paul Rooney, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 4
• Lawrence Rooney, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1812 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rooney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Hugh Rooney, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1833
• Bryan Rooney, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• Mary Rooney, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• Edward Rooney, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• Nicholas Rooney, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rooney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Rooney, Irish house servant who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
• Mr. Michael Rooney, Irish seaman who was convicted in Ireland for stealing, transported aboard the “Countess of Harcourt“ on 14th February 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1847 6
• Mr. Michael Rooney, Irish seaman who was convicted in Ireland for stealing, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 28th June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1847 7
• John Rooney, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
• Mr. Owen Rooney, (b. 1812), aged 16, Irish convict who was convicted in Sligo, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Borodino" on 11th February 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1854 9
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rooney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Rooney, (b. 1840), aged 22, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 10
• Mr. John Rooney, (b. 1844), aged 31, Irish labourer from Armagh travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 11
• Annie Rooney, aged 14, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rodney" in 1875
• Jane Rooney, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878
• Teresa Rooney, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878

• Mickey Rooney (1920-2014), born Joseph Yule Jr., American Juvenile Academy Award, Honorary Academy Award, two-time Golden Globe and an Emmy Award winning film actor and entertainer
• John E. Rooney (1939-2025), American Republican Party politician, served in the New Jersey General Assembly, represented the 39th Legislative District (1983-2010), the longest-serving representative in the General Assembly
• Kevin Rooney (1950-2022), American two-time Primetime Emmy Award winning stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, known for When Harry Met Sally... (1989), My Wife and Kids (2001) and Dennis Miller Live (1994)
• Mickey Rooney Jr. (1945-2022), American actor, eldest son of the actor Mickey Rooney, and operated the Rooney Entertainment Group
• Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooney (1932-2017), American football executive and diplomat, 2nd Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2003-2017), United States Ambassador to Ireland (2009-2012)
• Teddy Rooney (1950-2016), American actor and musician, son of Mickey Rooney
• Sean Michael Rooney (b. 1982), American two-time gold and silver medalist volleyball player
• John E. "Jack" Rooney (d. 2011), American businessman, President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Cellular
• John Rooney (b. 1954), American radio sportscaster for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Andy Rooney (1919-2011), noted journalist and commentator for CBS best known for his commentary on the show "60 minutes"
• ... (Another 40 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)