UK surname
A surname likely derived from a nickname for someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Robbs surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Willesden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robbs is 161 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.8%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1861
161 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Robbs surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Robbs surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 161 | #14,392 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 157 | #17,778 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 78 | #25,013 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Willesden, London parishes, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Grantham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Gainsborough, Paddocks | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Grantham | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Robbs surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Robbs, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Robbs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Robbs household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Robbs is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robbs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Robbs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Robbs originated in England during the medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the more common Roberts, which is derived from the Germanic personal name Robert, composed of the elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "berht" meaning "bright."
Robbs is believed to have emerged as a distinct surname in the county of Kent, where it was first recorded in the late 13th century. The earliest known record of the name is in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334, which mention a John Robbs residing in the village of Lyminge.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Robbs surname began to spread across other parts of southern England, particularly in the counties of Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as Robbe, Robbes, and Robbys.
One notable early bearer of the name was William Robbs, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from around 1420 to 1490. He is mentioned in several historical documents, including the Letter Books of the City of London.
In the 16th century, the Robbs surname can be found in various parish records and tax rolls across different regions of England. One example is John Robbs, born in 1534 in the village of Hartfield, East Sussex, who is recorded in the Hartfield Parish Registers.
Another individual of note was Robert Robbs, a prominent lawyer and landowner from Gloucestershire, who lived from 1570 to 1642. He is mentioned in legal documents and land deeds from the early 17th century.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Robbs surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, as well as in some areas of Scotland and Ireland, where it may have been adopted by families of English descent.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Robbs (1673-1744), a member of the English gentry from Berkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament and held several important positions in the local government.
Another individual of note was Charles Robbs (1728-1805), a successful merchant and banker from London, who amassed a considerable fortune through his business ventures.
By the 19th century, the Robbs surname had become well-established across various regions of the British Isles, and it began to appear in records from other parts of the world as British settlers emigrated to other countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robbs surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 26 Robbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 26 | 34.02x |
| Durham | 7 | 4.92x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.26x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 4.45x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.42x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 2.80x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 5.17x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.30x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.95x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.55x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Grantham in Lincolnshire leads with 8 Robbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 800.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Grantham | 8 | 800.00x |
| Whickham | 7 | 534.35x |
| Morton In Gainsborough | 6 | 4000.00x |
| Gedney | 4 | 1290.32x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 11.29x |
| Manthorpe Cum Little | 2 | 344.83x |
| Sutton St Mary | 2 | 277.78x |
| Amcotts | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Bettws Y Coed | 1 | 769.23x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 11.89x |
| Cotterstock | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 20.62x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 65.79x |
| Horbury | 1 | 120.48x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.16x |
| North Curry | 1 | 384.62x |
| Northampton St Giles | 1 | 58.48x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 6.00x |
| Riccarton | 1 | 185.19x |
| Skipsea | 1 | 1428.57x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 16.03x |
| St Michael Cambridge | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Tydd St Mary | 1 | 666.67x |
| Uffington | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Robbs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Robbs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Robbs households.
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Robbs surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Robbs a modern rank of #33,762.
A surname likely derived from a nickname for someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Robbs bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.