
Origins of the Robinson surname


What does the name Robinson mean?
The Robinson surname is common in the United Kingdom, where it is the fifteenth most popular. Similarly, it is the twentieth most common in the United States. Due to English settlement of the province of Ulster, this surname can also be found relatively often in Northern Ireland. Robinson is thought to be most often a patronymic surname that originated in England, deriving from a description of 'son of Robin (a common diminutive of Robert)'. More rarely, the surname Robinson can sometimes be encountered as an anglicisation of some Jewish names like Rubenstein and Rabinowitz.
Alternative variations of the name Robinson
Robinson, Robbinson, Robenson, Rabinson, Rebinson
Start your family history journey
Start free trial


Start your family tree
Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Robinsons.
Sign up to get startedDelve deeper into the Robinson family's history

Interesting facts about Robinson

Common jobs for Robinsons
Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.
Common female occupations for Robinsons in 1921
Dressmaker
4,147
Cotton Weaver
2,877
Domestic Servant
2,171
General Servant Domestic
2,105
Laundress
1,992
Common male occupations for Robinsons in 1921
Coal Miner
4,365
Agricultural Labourer
3,664
Farmer
3,625
General Labourer
3,219
Joiner
2,322

Learn more about the lives of Robinson family members
Share your discoveries
Look for a different surname
Find out more about your family in our records