NameCensus.

UK surname

Robb

A Scottish surname derived from the given name Robert, meaning "bright fame."

In the 1881 census there were 5,207 people recorded with the Robb surname, ranking it #854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,401, ranked #903, down from #854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arbroath Warddykes, Montrose North and Montrose South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robb is 7,401 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

5,207

Ranked #854

Modern count

7,401

2016, ranked #903

Peak year

2016

7,401 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Robb had 5,207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,401 in 2016, ranked #903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,502 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Robb surname distribution map

The map shows where the Robb surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Robb surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robb over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 3,527 #803
1861 historical 3,876 #722
1881 historical 5,207 #854
1891 historical 5,721 #825
1901 historical 6,502 #855
1911 historical 1,420 #3,400
1997 modern 6,859 #944
1998 modern 7,005 #965
1999 modern 7,058 #968
2000 modern 7,028 #965
2001 modern 6,831 #975
2002 modern 7,119 #947
2003 modern 6,931 #949
2004 modern 6,984 #940
2005 modern 6,906 #943
2006 modern 6,900 #945
2007 modern 6,971 #942
2008 modern 7,048 #935
2009 modern 7,184 #938
2010 modern 7,299 #942
2011 modern 7,205 #940
2012 modern 7,098 #934
2013 modern 7,291 #926
2014 modern 7,376 #918
2015 modern 7,341 #915
2016 modern 7,401 #903

Geography

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Where Robbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arbroath Warddykes, Montrose North, Montrose South, Arbroath Kirkton and Arbroath Harbour. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arbroath Warddykes Angus
2 Montrose North Angus
3 Montrose South Angus
4 Arbroath Kirkton Angus
5 Arbroath Harbour Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robb

These lists show first names that appear often with the Robb surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robb

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Robb, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Robb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Robb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Robb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Robb is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Robb falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Robb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Robb

The surname Robb has its origins in the northern English counties, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name Rodbriht or Rodbyret, which was composed of the elements "rod" meaning "bright" or "famous" and "briht" or "byret" meaning "nobility" or "illustrious."

The earliest recorded instances of the Robb surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, there is a mention of Rodbertus de Rylestone, which could be an early variation of the name. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Robb name, but it does list individuals with similar names like Rodbert and Rodber.

As the surname evolved over time, various spellings emerged, such as Robbe, Robb, Roby, and Robbie. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects and linguistic changes. In the 16th century, the surname Robb began to appear more frequently in parish records and other historical documents across northern England.

One notable individual bearing the Robb surname was Sir John Robb (c. 1530-1597), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1592 and was known for his involvement in the Virginia Company, which aimed to establish English colonies in North America.

Another historical figure was James Robb (1688-1753), a Scottish architect and mason who worked on several significant buildings, including the Old College of Glasgow University and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. His contributions to Scottish architecture during the 18th century are widely recognized.

In the literary world, David Robb (1812-1890) was a Scottish poet and writer from Renfrewshire. He published several volumes of poetry, including "Poems and Songs" in 1857, and was known for his depictions of rural life and the Scottish landscape.

Isabella Robb (1840-1923) was a notable figure in the women's suffrage movement in Scotland. She was a founding member of the Glasgow Association for the Promotion of Women's Suffrage and actively campaigned for women's rights and political representation.

Sir John Robb (1879-1953) was a British civil engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of hydraulic engineering and water supply systems. He was knighted in 1948 for his services to the engineering profession.

The Robb surname has a rich history rooted in northern England, with various spellings and notable individuals who have carried the name throughout the centuries. While its origins can be traced back to Old English personal names, the surname has evolved and spread across different regions, leaving a lasting mark on various fields, from literature and architecture to engineering and political activism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robb surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 936 Robbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.00x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 936 20.00x
Lanarkshire 879 5.38x
Angus 624 13.33x
Midlothian 492 7.27x
Fife 238 7.96x
Ayrshire 192 5.08x
Perthshire 171 7.54x
Lancashire 149 0.25x
Banffshire 123 11.74x
Middlesex 122 0.24x
Morayshire 122 15.54x
Stirlingshire 107 5.74x
Renfrewshire 103 2.63x
Dunbartonshire 83 6.11x
Kincardineshire 80 13.00x
Durham 53 0.35x
Surrey 48 0.20x
West Lothian 45 5.91x
Northumberland 43 0.57x
Wigtownshire 42 6.26x
Yorkshire 41 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 39 5.33x
Inverness-shire 33 2.19x
Kent 28 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 28 0.41x
Dumfriesshire 25 2.24x
Warwickshire 23 0.18x
Essex 22 0.22x
Orkney 21 3.78x
Hampshire 20 0.19x
Peeblesshire 20 8.42x
Ross-shire 19 1.37x
Argyllshire 18 1.28x
Clackmannanshire 18 4.31x
Norfolk 18 0.23x
Cheshire 17 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 15 1.50x
East Lothian 12 1.79x
Sussex 12 0.14x
Lincolnshire 10 0.12x
Gloucestershire 9 0.09x
Nairnshire 9 5.84x
Royal Navy 9 1.49x
Glamorgan 8 0.09x
Staffordshire 8 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.22x
Cumberland 7 0.16x
Berwickshire 5 0.82x
Caithness 5 0.72x
Cornwall 4 0.07x
Roxburghshire 4 0.44x
Devon 2 0.02x
Selkirkshire 2 0.44x
Somerset 2 0.02x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Cardiganshire 1 0.08x
Channel Islands 1 0.07x
Isle of Man 1 0.11x
Kinross-shire 1 0.78x
Sutherland 1 0.26x
Westmorland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 255 Robbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.31x.

Place Total Index
Govan 255 6.31x
Dundee 236 13.51x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 220 8.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 207 21.19x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 187 21.36x
Barony 167 4.04x
Glasgow 133 4.58x
Liff Benvie 55 7.74x
Peterhead 52 21.02x
Falkirk 48 11.00x
Forfar 46 18.15x
Cambusnethan 44 12.12x
Kirriemuir 44 38.10x
Elgin 41 26.85x
Maybole 41 35.62x
South Leith 40 5.25x
New Deer 39 46.04x
Carnwath 38 37.61x
New Monkland 34 7.04x
Keith 32 28.64x
Fraserburgh 31 23.54x
Old Deer 31 34.97x
West Calder 31 23.24x
Arbroath 30 19.34x
Hamilton 29 6.36x
Dumbarton 27 14.29x
St Vigeans 27 10.69x
Dysart 26 12.91x
Maryhill 26 8.13x
North Leith 26 8.30x
Cruden 25 41.49x
Bonhill 24 11.01x
Fetteresso 23 23.86x
Montrose 23 8.11x
Stirling 23 9.79x
Strichen 23 56.57x
Old Cumnock 22 26.13x
Abbotshall 21 18.79x
Auckinleck 21 17.94x
Inverness 21 5.53x
Longside 21 37.58x
Penicuik 21 22.83x
Perth East Church 21 9.82x
Tyrie 21 35.76x
Dunfermline 20 4.35x
Islington London 20 0.41x
Mile End Old Town 20 2.51x
St Fergus 20 75.53x
Alyth 19 31.13x
Aston 19 0.54x
Turriff 19 25.16x
Carstairs 18 53.19x
Gamrie 18 15.39x
Kintore 18 44.27x
Kirkcaldy 18 12.14x
St Andrews 18 13.23x
Abbey 17 2.85x
Alloa 17 8.40x
Monifieth 17 10.28x
Perth Middle Church 17 19.94x
Bathgate 16 9.69x
Edinburgh St Marys 16 12.16x
Rathen 16 32.63x
Scone 16 39.72x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 1.58x
Cupar 15 11.53x
Dalry 15 8.43x
Everton 15 0.79x
Forgue 15 35.70x
Laurencekirk 15 42.09x
Liverpool 15 0.41x
Newhills 15 15.66x
Paisley Middle Church 15 6.58x
Rothes 15 39.17x
Toxteth Park 15 0.74x
Cathcart 14 6.61x
Kirkdale 14 1.39x
Scoonie 14 21.62x
Shettleston 14 9.57x
St Ives 14 26.91x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Robb surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 33
Ann 18
Sarah 17
Margaret 14
Jane 12
Annie 11
Ellen 11
Isabella 11
Catherine 10
Jessie 10
Agnes 8
Eliza 8
Alice 7
Emma 7
Charlotte 5
Janet 5
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Beatrice 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Marian 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Margeret 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Susanna 2
Betsie 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Eleana 1
Eliz. 1
Eloise 1
Jasmine 1
Tessia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Robb surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 51
John 44
William 44
Alexander 23
David 22
Thomas 20
George 18
Robert 11
Edward 10
Charles 9
Joseph 8
Andrew 7
Arthur 7
Benjamin 6
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Colin 1
Davd. 1
Davies 1
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
F.W. 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
G.S. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Isac 1
Jas. 1
Jas.F. 1
Josiah 1
Kinnan 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Malcolm 1
Pearson 1
Peter 1
R. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Robb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,207 people were recorded with the Robb surname. That placed it at #854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,401 in 2016. That gives Robb a modern rank of #903.

What does the Robb surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the given name Robert, meaning "bright fame."

What does the Robb map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Robb bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.