Mulrooney surname history

Rooney is the anglicised version of O Ruanaidh,from Ruanaidh, a personal name meaning "champion". The principal family of the name originated in Co. Down, where their territory was centred on the parish of Ballyroney, which includes their name.

The family have produced many poets. The Annals records the death of Ceallach O?Rooney "chief poet of Ireland in 1079, and the death of John O?Rooney, poet to the McGuinnesses in 1376. Born in Dublin, William Rooney (1872 - 1901) was involved in nationalist politics and the Celtic Literary Revival, co-founding the United Irishman newspaper with Arthur Griffith in 1890 at the age of 18. The most recent literary figure of the name is Padraig Rooney, winner of the Kavanagh Prize for Poetry in 1986. Two other families, both from Co. Fermanagh, have also anglicised their surnames as Rooney, the O Maolruanaidh ("Mulrooney"), and the Mac Maolruanaidh ("MacArooney"), both prominent in the early history of the county.