Van Rooyen or Van Rooijen (Dutch pronunciation: [vɑn ˈroːi.ə(n)]) is an Afrikaans and Dutch toponymic surname. "Rooij" or "Roij" was a local term for many towns ending with "rode" or "roij", like Nistelrode, Sint-Oedenrode, Stramproy and Wanroij. This suffix itself means "a clearing made by men".^[1] Notable people with the surname include:

• Ack van Rooyen (1930–2021), Dutch jazz trumpeter, brother of Jerry
• Aimee van Rooyen (born 1995), South African rhythmic gymnast
• Basil van Rooyen (born 1939), South African racing driver
• Cornelius van Rooyen (1860–1915), South African-born Rhodesian big game hunter and dog breeder
  • Van Rooyen's Lion Dog (a.k.a. Rhodesian Ridgeback), bred by him
• David van Rooyen (born 1968), South African politician, Government Minister 2015–18
• Diederik van Rooijen (born 1975), Dutch television and movie director
• Erik van Rooyen (born 1990), South African golfer
• Gert van Rooyen (1938–1990), South African serial killer
• Jacques van Rooyen (born 1986), South African rugby player
• Jerry van Rooyen, born "Gerard van Rooijen" (1928–2009), Dutch trumpeter, conductor, and composer
• Laurens van Rooyen (born 1935), Dutch pianist and composer
• Manon van Rooijen (born 1982), Dutch swimmer
• Martin van Rooijen (born 1942), Dutch politician, State Secretary of Finances 1973–77
• Maurits van Rooijen (born 1956), Dutch social and economic historian
• Michael VanRooyen (born 1961), American humanitarian and physician
• Mitchell van Rooijen (born 1998), Dutch football forward
• Myriam van Rooyen-Steenman (born 1950), Dutch rower
• Olivia van Rooijen (born 1988), Dutch rower
• Reynier van Rooyen (born 1990), South African rugby player
• Rocco van Rooyen (born 1992), South African javelin thrower
• Rudi van Rooyen (born 1992), South African rugby player
• Shaun van Rooyen (born 1987), New Zealand soccer player
• Stephen Mark van Rooyen (born 1962), South African medical fraudster; a US most wanted fugitive
• Tank van Rooyen (1892–1942), South African rugby player
• Wilco van Rooijen [nl] (born 1967), Dutch mountaineer who survived the 2008 K2 disaster

• Van Rooij and Van Royen, Dutch surnames of the same origin

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname van Rooyen.
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