Van Rooyen

Van Rooyen or Van Rooijen 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". 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
 * (born 1967), Dutch mountaineer who survived the 2008 K2 disaster