# Rodney (name)

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**Rodney** is a [toponymic surname](/source/Toponymic_surname) derived from the ancient name of the islands off the coast of Sweden previously called Roden, now [Roslagen](/source/Roslagen), near Stockholm. In 1138, Walter De Rodeney accompanied Empress Maude from Normandy in her bid for the English crown during the period known as [The Anarchy](/source/The_Anarchy). Walter was awarded the manor of [Backwell](/source/Backwell) near [Somersetshire](/source/Somersetshire) for his support against [King Stephen](/source/Stephen,_King_of_England)[1]. The **De Rodeney** surname, literally "of the Roden Islands" was shortened to **Rodney** in the 1300s.

*Rodney* became a title of the peerage of Great Britain in 1782, as [Baron Rodney](/source/Baron_Rodney). Secondarily, it came to be used as a given name in the 18th century, originally in honour of Admiral [George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney](/source/George_Brydges_Rodney,_1st_Baron_Rodney).[2]

## Given name

See also: '

- [Rodney (wrestler)](/source/Rodney_(wrestler)) (born 1971), American professional wrestler
- [Rodney Adams](/source/Rodney_Adams) (born 1994), American football player
- [Rodney Alcala](/source/Rodney_Alcala) (1943–2021), convicted American rapist and serial killer
- [Rodney Allison](/source/Rodney_Allison) (born 1956), American football coach
- [Rodney Anderson (Wyoming politician)](/source/Rodney_Anderson_(Wyoming_politician)) (born 1931), American politician
- [Rodney Anderson](/source/Rodney_Anderson_(Texas_politician)) (born 1968), American politician
- [Rodney Anderson (American football)](/source/Rodney_Anderson_(American_football)) (born 1996), American football player
- Rodney Anoaʻi (1966–2000), American professional wrestler better known as [Yokozuna](/source/Yokozuna_(wrestler)) and member of [Anoaʻi family](/source/Anoa%CA%BBi_family)
- [Rodney Ansell](/source/Rodney_Ansell) (1954–1999), Australian man who inspired the *"Crocodile" Dundee* films
- [Rodney Atkins](/source/Rodney_Atkins) (born 1969), an American country singer
- [Boss Bailey](/source/Boss_Bailey) (born 1979), an American football linebacker whose real name is Rodney
- [Rodney Bailey](/source/Rodney_Bailey) (born 1979), an American football player
- [Rodney Begnaud](/source/Rodney_Begnaud) (born 1973), American professional wrestler
- [Rodney Bewes](/source/Rodney_Bewes) (1937–2017), English actor
- [Rodney Bingenheimer](/source/Rodney_Bingenheimer) (born 1946), radio disc jockey
- [Rod Bonella](/source/Rod_Bonella) (1945/46–2000), Australian long-distance runner and horse trainer
- [Rod Carew](/source/Rod_Carew) (born 1945), Panamanian-American baseball player
- [Rodney Carrington](/source/Rodney_Carrington) (born 1968), comedian and star of *Rodney* (TV series)
- [Rodney Caston](/source/Rodney_Caston) (born 1977), American writer
- [Rodney Charles](/source/Rodney_Charles) (born 1950), Trinidadian politician
- Rodney Clavell, former South Australian corrections officer and prisoner at [Yatala Labour Prison](/source/Yatala_Labour_Prison#Notable_prisoners)
- [Rodney Cloete](/source/Rodney_Cloete), Namibian politician
- [Rodney Collin](/source/Rodney_Collin) (1909–1956), British writer
- [Rodney Craig](/source/Rodney_Craig) (born 1945), British fencer
- [Rodney Dangerfield](/source/Rodney_Dangerfield) (1921–2004), American comedian
- [Rodney Dunham](/source/Rodney_Dunham) (born 2008), American football player
- [Rodney Eastman](/source/Rodney_Eastman) (born 1967), Canadian actor
- [Rodney Fox](/source/Rodney_Fox) (born 1940), Australian film maker and shark attack survivor
- [Rodney Frelinghuysen](/source/Rodney_Frelinghuysen) (born 1946), U.S. Representative from New Jersey
- [Rodney Godshall](/source/Rodney_Godshall) (1944–2025), American operatic bass
- [Rodney A. Hawes, Jr.](/source/Rodney_A._Hawes,_Jr.) (born 1939), American business executive and philanthropist
- [Rodney Howard-Browne](/source/Rodney_Howard-Browne) (born 1961), South African, American Evangelist
- [Rodney Jack](/source/Rodney_Jack) (born 1972), St. Vincent football player
- [Rodney Jenkins](/source/Rodney_Jenkins) (1944–2024), American equestrian
- [Rodney Jerkins](/source/Rodney_Jerkins) (born 1977), American record producer, rapper, and songwriter
- [Rodney Kageyama](/source/Rodney_Kageyama) (1941–2018), American actor
- [Rodney King](/source/Rodney_King) (1965–2012), African-American whose beating by the LAPD sparked race riots in Los Angeles, California
- [Rodney Linderman](/source/Rodney_Linderman) (born 1963), better known as Rodney Anonymous, of the Dead Milkmen
- [Rodney MacDonald](/source/Rodney_MacDonald) (born 1972), Canadian politician and former Premier of Nova Scotia
- [Rod McKuen](/source/Rod_McKuen) (1933–2015), American singer, poet
- [Rodney Marks](/source/Rodney_Marks) (1968–2000), Australian astrophysicist
- [Rodney Marsh (footballer)](/source/Rodney_Marsh_(footballer)) (born 1944), English footballer
- [Rod Marsh](/source/Rod_Marsh) (1947–2022), Australian cricketer
- [Rodney Matthews](/source/Rodney_Matthews) (born 1945), English artist and illustrator
- [Rodney Mazion](/source/Rodney_Mazion) (born 1971), American football and baseball player
- [Rodney Mullen](/source/Rodney_Mullen) (born 1966), professional skateboarder
- [Rodney Needham](/source/Rodney_Needham) (1923–2006), British social anthropologist
- [Rodney Porter](/source/Rodney_Porter) (1917–1985), English biochemist
- [Rodney Price](/source/Rodney_Price) (born 1972), Jamaican artist
- [Rodney Reed](/source/Rodney_Reed) (born 1967), American death row inmate
- [Rodney Rowland](/source/Rodney_Rowland) (born 1964), American actor
- [Rodney Scott (actor)](/source/Rodney_Scott_(actor)) (born 1978), American actor
- [Rodney Scott (baseball)](/source/Rodney_Scott_(baseball)) (born 1953), American baseball player
- [Rodney Scott (pitmaster)](/source/Rodney_Scott_(pitmaster)) (born 1971), American chef and [whole hog barbecue](/source/Whole_hog_barbecue) pitmaster
- [Rodney Seaborn](/source/Rodney_Seaborn) (1912−2008), Australian psychiatrist and performing arts philanthropist
- [Rodney Sikumba](/source/Rodney_Sikumba) (born 1980), Zambian politician
- [Roots Manuva](/source/Roots_Manuva) (born 1972), English rapper, real name Rodney Hylton Smith
- [Rodney Stuckey](/source/Rodney_Stuckey) (born 1986), American basketball player
- [Rodney Vandergert](/source/Rodney_Vandergert) (1935–2009), Sri Lankan diplomat
- [Rod Wallace](/source/Rod_Wallace) (born 1969), English footballer
- [Rodney Wallace (American football)](/source/Rodney_Wallace_(American_football)) (1949–2013), American football offensive lineman
- [Rodney Wallace (fighter)](/source/Rodney_Wallace_(fighter)) (born 1981), American professional mixed martial arts fighter
- [Rodney Wallace (footballer)](/source/Rodney_Wallace_(footballer)) (born 1988), Costa Rican footballer for New York City FC
- [Rodney Wallace (Massachusetts politician)](/source/Rodney_Wallace_(Massachusetts_politician)) (1823–1903), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
- [Rodney Warnakula](/source/Rodney_Warnakula) (born 1961), Sri Lankan actor
- [Rodney Williams (disambiguation)](/source/Rodney_Williams_(disambiguation)), multiple people

## Surnames

- [Brenda Solzano-Rodney](/source/Brenda_Solzano-Rodney) (born 1962), West Indian cricketer
- [Caesar Rodney](/source/Caesar_Rodney) (1728–1784), lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence from Delaware
- [Caesar A. Rodney](/source/Caesar_A._Rodney) (1772–1824), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- [Caleb Rodney](/source/Caleb_Rodney) (1767–1840), merchant and Governor of Delaware
- [Daniel Rodney](/source/Daniel_Rodney) (1764–1846), merchant, Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- [Fernando Rodney](/source/Fernando_Rodney) (born 1977), relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals
- [George B. Rodney](/source/George_B._Rodney) (1803–1883), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- [George B. Rodney, Jr.](/source/George_B._Rodney,_Jr.) (1842–1927) Governor of Alaska and U.S. Army officer
- [George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney](/source/George_Brydges_Rodney,_1st_Baron_Rodney) (1718–1792), admiral in the British Royal Navy
- [George Rodney, 2nd Baron Rodney](/source/George_Rodney,_2nd_Baron_Rodney) (1753–1802)
- [George Rodney, 3rd Baron Rodney](/source/George_Rodney,_3rd_Baron_Rodney) (1782–1842)
- [Sir John Rodney](/source/John_Rodney_(MP)) (13??-1400)
- [Spencer Rodney, 5th Baron Rodney](/source/Spencer_Rodney,_5th_Baron_Rodney) (1785–1846)
- [Thomas Rodney](/source/Thomas_Rodney) (1744–1811), lawyer and Continental Congressman from Delaware
- [Walter Rodney](/source/Walter_Rodney) (1942–1980), Guyanese historian and politician

## Fictional characters

- Rodney, a hamster villager in [Animal Crossing: New Leaf](/source/Animal_Crossing:_New_Leaf) and [New Horizons](/source/Animal_Crossing:_New_Horizons)
- [Rodney Copperbottom](/source/Rodney_Copperbottom), character in the movie *Robots*
- [Rodney McKay](/source/Rodney_McKay), character in science fiction television series *Stargate Atlantis*
- [Rodney Trotter](/source/Rodney_Trotter), character in British sitcom *[Only Fools and Horses](/source/Only_Fools_and_Horses)*
- [Rodney J. Squirrel](/source/Rodney_J._Squirrel), one of the main characters from *Squirrel Boy*
- Rodney Ford, character from manga and anime series *[Element Hunters](/source/Element_Hunters)*
- Rodney Stone, the narrator of boxing novel *[Rodney Stone](/source/Rodney_Stone)* by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Rodney Wilson, a character in the 2012 American comedy movie [*Wanderlust*](/source/Wanderlust_(2012_film)#Cast)
- Rodney, character from *[Total Drama: Pahkitew Island](/source/Total_Drama:_Pahkitew_Island)*
- Sir Rodney, character in the American comic strip *[The Wizard of Id](/source/The_Wizard_of_Id)*

## See also

- [Rodney (disambiguation)](/source/Rodney_(disambiguation))
- [Rondey Robinson](/source/Rondey_Robinson) (born 1967), American professional basketball player

## References

1. Dunning, Robert (1980). *Somerset & Avon*. Bartholomew. p. 30. ISBN 0-7028-8380-8.

1. Hanks, Patrick & Hodges, Flavia (1990). *A Dictionary of First Names*. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 284. ISBN 0192116517.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rodney (name)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_(name)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_(name)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.