ROBERT

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Robert (surname)

Robert is a surname of Old English and Scottish origin. Derived from the personal name Robert, meaning "bright fame" from the Germanic elements hrod (meaning "fame") and beraht (meaning "bright"). The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.

Notable People:

David Robert: English poet and novelist
Hannah Robert: Scottish actress
Simon Robert: British historian

Geographic Distribution:

The surname Robert is most commonly found in Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is also present in various parts of the former British Empire, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variants:

Variants of the surname Robert include Roberts, Robson, Robertson, and Robson.

References:

Reaney, P. H., & Wilson, R. M. (1997). A dictionary of English surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hanks, P., Coates, R., & McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford dictionary of family names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

There are approximately 2,001 people named Robert in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,217th most common surname in Britain. Around 31 in a million people in Britain are named Robert.

Surname type: From given name or forename

Region of origin: Europe

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Andrew
Anthony
Christopher
Darren
David
Eric
James
John
Michael
Paul
Robert
Sulman
William

Female

Angela
Ann
Elizabeth
Helen
Jean
Julia
Kimberley
Lisa
Margaret
Mary
Patricia
Susan
Suzanne

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.