Robinson
What is the origin of the last name Robinson?
Meaning and origin
The last name Robinson originated as a patronymic surname meaning "son of Robin," derived from the medieval given name Robin or Robert, typical among the English and Scottish. It signifies descent from an ancestor named Robin or Robert and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages in Britain. The name Robin itself comes from the Germanic name Hrōth-beraht, composed of the elements "hroth" meaning "fame" and "beraht" meaning "bright." As such, the name Robinson can be seen as a blending of Germanic and British naming traditions, reflecting the historical influences on the development of surnames.
The longer story
The last name "Robinson" is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the personal name of an ancestor.
The surname "Robinson" is of English origin. It is particularly prevalent in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. The distribution of the surname across different regions suggests that it has had a significant presence in these areas for many generations and has likely spread through migration and settlement.
Historically, the name "Robinson" is associated with occupations such as son of a Robert or farm worker.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#30
Robinson was the 30th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 529,821 people, about 180 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Robinson
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Robinson is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.