Roby

Roby is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old Norse personal name "Hrothi", which means "fame" or "glory". The name Roby is classified as a habitation name, indicating that the original bearer lived in a place called Roby.

Distribution and Historical Background

The surname Roby is most prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is also found in other regions throughout the UK and has spread to other English-speaking countries, particularly the United States and Canada.

Notable Individuals with the Surname Roby

  • George Roby (1896–1954): A popular British music hall entertainer known for his comedic performances.
  • Jason Roby (b. 1980): English professional footballer who played as a midfielder for several clubs during his career.

Variants of the Surname

Variants of the surname Roby include Robey, Robie, and Robie. Over time, the spelling of the surname may have evolved due to regional dialects or clerical errors.

References

  • Hanks, P., Coates, R., & McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
  • Reaney, P.H., & Wilson, R. M. (1997). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press.

There are approximately 1,041 people named Roby in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,141st most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Roby.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Christopher
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Neil
  • Paul
  • Rodney
  • Stephen
  • Steven

Female

  • Alison
  • Barbara
  • Edna
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Jean
  • Joan
  • Julie
  • Kathleen
  • Ke
  • Lisa
  • Margaret
  • Marie
  • Rachael
  • Sarah

Similar and related surnames

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

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