This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Rodney,' i.e. Rodney Stoke, a parish in Somerset, but traced back earlier to Rodney, a small moss island in the parish of Wedmore in the same county.

Richard de Rodeneye, 32 Edward I: Calendarium Genealogicum: Henry III-Edward I.

Walter de Rodeneye, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Thomas de Rodeneye, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

Ralph de Rodeneye, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

'The vicar of Wedmore has been publishing some interesting notes upon the field names of that parish in the Wedmore Chronicle. In the number for March, 1887, he states that Rodney "is the name of a little hump, or island, rising out of Mark Moor, and he traces the Rodney family back from Rodney Stoke to Mark': N. and Q., Oct. 29, 1887.

1605. Charles Howard and Elizabeth Rodney (of Pilton, Somerset): Marriage Afleg. (Canterbury).

(English) belonging to Rodney (Soms.), early 14th cent. uniformly Rodeneye, pointing to an Anglo-Saxon *H)Ródan-íg = Róda’s or Hróda’s Island [the pers. name Róda or Hróda or Hróða (genit. Ródan-, etc.) is the first element (without the common suff. -a) of Roderick and Rodger, q.v. (a Devonshire thew named Hróda was manumitted c. 970-‘Cart. Sax.’ No. 1246]

A place in co. Somerset, which was possessed by the family as early as the time of Stephen. The elder line became extinct in the XVII. century; but Lord Rodney represents a younger branch. Peerage.

Or De Reyney. This family has been traced (Collinson, Somerset, iii. 602-605) from Walter de Rodney, t. Stephen; but the name Rodney is apparently not found in the records prior to the 14th century. It is a corruption of Reiny or Rayney, afterwards Radenay. The family of Reyney bore 3 pairs of wings in lure, from which the present arms of Rodney (3 spread eagles) are derived. The family of De Reiney or Rigny came from Champagne. Hagebert de Rigneio 1101 witnessed a charter of the Bishop of Tulle (Gall. Christ. xiii. 480 Instr.), and may be the same who possessed lands in Essex 1086 (Domesday). Roger de Reigny witnessed a charter of Bishop Roger of Sarum, t. Henry I. (Mon. i. 424); and Robert de R. held five fees, Devon 1165 (Lib. Niger). John de R. of Devon, and William de R., occur 1200 (Rotuli Curiae Regis). John de Reiney or Rayney was of Devon and Somerset, and d. 1247 (Roberts, Excerpta). Thomas de R. occurs in the same year, and 1303 Sir Richard de Reyney or Radeney, and Lucia his wife, occur (Roberts, Cal. Geneal.). This noble acquired Stoke, Somerset, by m. with the heiress; and from him descended the brave Lord Rodney, and the barons of that name. Gaufridus de Radeneio, Normandy 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae), paid a fine in the bailifry of Argentom; from which it appears that the name of Rayney had early adopted the D. The case is similar to those of Kenetbol for Kenebal, Lachmere for Lamare, Lidle for Lisle.