Explore the Family Name Rodney
The meaning of Rodney
English (Lancashire): habitational name from a lost or as yet unidentified place, perhaps near Markham in Somerset, and apparently named from the Old English personal name Hrōda (a short form of various compound names with the first element hrōth ‘renown’) + ēg ‘island, raised area in marsh’. The use of Rodney as a personal name probably developed in the 18th century. Compare Radney.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rodney in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Rodney has seen a significant decline over the course of a decade. In 2000, Rodney ranked 5034 in popularity and was carried by approximately 6396 individuals, with a proportion of 2.37 per 100k people. However, by 2010, the surname's rank had dropped to 8106, a decrease of 61.03%. The number of people bearing the surname also declined to 4089, representing a 36.07% drop. For every 100k people, the proportion of those named Rodney fell by 41.35%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,034 | #8,106 | -61.03% |
| Count | 6,396 | 4,089 | -36.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.37 | 1.39 | -41.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rodney
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Rodney has shown considerable changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, the majority of individuals with the Rodney surname identified as White (68.18%), followed by Black (26.58%). By 2010, those identifying as Black had risen sharply to 51.06%, an increase of 92.10%, while the percentage of those identifying as White had decreased significantly to 41.72%. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic had also increased substantially, from 2.22% to 4.11%. Increases were also noted among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, albeit at lower rates. Conversely, there was a slight decrease in those identifying with two or more ethnicities, from 2.17% to 2.03%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 26.58% | 51.06% | 92.1% |
| White | 68.18% | 41.72% | -38.81% |
| Hispanic | 2.22% | 4.11% | 85.14% |
| Two or More Races | 2.17% | 2.03% | -6.45% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.61% | 0.78% | 27.87% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.23% | 0.29% | 26.09% |