NameCensus.

UK surname

Robberts

An English locational surname originating from various places named Roberthees or Robertes.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Robberts surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringwood, Harbridge and Methwold. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Teignbridge and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robberts is 220 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.9%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1851

220 bearers

Map years

4

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Robberts had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Robberts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robberts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robberts 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 50 #32,658
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 54 #32,660
2000 modern 58 #32,317
2001 modern 61 #31,891
2002 modern 60 #32,388
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 53 #33,336
2005 modern 54 #33,433
2006 modern 50 #34,077
2007 modern 53 #34,115
2008 modern 60 #33,743
2009 modern 72 #33,021
2010 modern 80 #32,670
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Robberts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringwood, Harbridge, Methwold, Manchester and Winterslow, Idmiston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Teignbridge, Bournemouth, Medway and Ross and Cromarty East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ringwood Hampshire
2 Harbridge Hampshire
3 Methwold Norfolk
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Winterslow, Idmiston Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 010 New Forest
2 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge
3 Bournemouth 002 Bournemouth
4 Medway 025 Medway
5 Ross and Cromarty East Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robberts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robberts

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Robberts, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Robberts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Robberts household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Robberts is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Robberts is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Robberts falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robberts 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 Robberts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Robberts

The surname ROBBERTS originated in England during the medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the more common surname Roberts, which is a patronymic name derived from the Old German personal name Robert. Robert itself comes from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "berht" meaning "bright."

The earliest recorded instance of the ROBBERTS spelling can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1195, where a Hugo Robberts is mentioned. This suggests that the ROBBERTS variant emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, likely as a regional spelling variation.

In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 contain a reference to a Willelmus Robberts, indicating the name's presence in that region during the medieval period. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a Johannes Robberts, further demonstrating the widespread use of this spelling across different parts of England.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the ROBBERTS surname was Sir John Robberts (1497-1561), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as an alderman and Sheriff of London in 1550.

Another notable figure was Reverend William ROBBERTS (1605-1675), an English clergyman who became the Bishop of Bangor in 1637 and later the Bishop of Norwich in 1661. He played a significant role in the Church of England during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War and the Restoration.

In the 18th century, James ROBBERTS (1726-1796) was a renowned English mathematician and cartographer. He published several influential works on navigation and created charts and maps used by the British Royal Navy.

The ROBBERTS surname also has a connection to literature through the English poet and writer William ROBBERTS (1788-1849), who was known for his romantic poetry and works on nature.

Finally, in the 19th century, Sir Thomas ROBBERTS (1823-1908) was a prominent British politician and Member of Parliament for Calne. He served as the Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1880 to 1885.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robberts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robberts 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. Hampshire leads with 19 Robberts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.26x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 19 8.26x
Montgomeryshire 14 54.45x
Staffordshire 12 3.17x
Norfolk 10 5.80x
Dorset 9 12.22x
Berkshire 8 9.50x
Monmouthshire 7 8.63x
Worcestershire 7 4.78x
Middlesex 6 0.53x
Warwickshire 4 1.41x
Herefordshire 3 6.52x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Glamorgan 2 1.02x
Shropshire 2 2.06x
Surrey 2 0.37x
Sussex 2 1.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.12x
Devon 1 0.43x
Somerset 1 0.55x
Suffolk 1 0.73x
Wiltshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ringwood in Hampshire leads with 19 Robberts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1292.52x.

Place Total Index
Ringwood 19 1292.52x
Llanfihangel 14 4375.00x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 9 803.57x
Hurst 8 727.27x
Cranborne 7 786.52x
Wollescote 7 593.22x
Wolverhampton 7 24.04x
Bedwellty 6 41.90x
Kingswinford 5 36.36x
Hulme 3 10.80x
Welsh Bicknor 3 7500.00x
Cwmdu 2 84.03x
Frant 2 149.25x
Lambeth 2 2.04x
Oswestry Rural 2 135.14x
Aston 1 1.28x
Bere Regis 1 204.08x
Blandford St Mary 1 714.29x
Chediston 1 714.29x
Coundon 1 909.09x
Fillongley 1 250.00x
Hammersmith London 1 3.62x
Kensington London 1 1.60x
Llanwrda 1 476.19x
Newport 1 25.84x
Oulton 1 666.67x
Paddington London 1 2.42x
Rugby 1 26.11x
St Andrew Holborn 1 26.32x
St Anne Soho London 1 15.60x
St George Hanover 1 6.83x
Tormoham 1 10.12x
Walcot 1 10.40x
Whiteparish 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Mary 4
Elizebth 3
Fanny 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catharine 2
Emily 2
A.Honor 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Deborah 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Gwenllian 1
H.G.H. 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Phebe 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Robberts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robberts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Robberts surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robberts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Robberts a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Robberts surname mean?

An English locational surname originating from various places named Roberthees or Robertes.

What does the Robberts map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Robberts 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.