UK surname
An anglicized form of the French surname "Robinsson", meaning "son of Robin."
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Robenson surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robenson is 388 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.6%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
388 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Robenson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Robenson surname density by area, 1891 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 | 332 | #7,031 |
| 1861 | historical | 388 | #6,602 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 365 | #9,526 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 74 | #25,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, Toxteth Park and Manchester. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Robenson 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 Robenson, 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 Robenson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Robenson 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, Robenson 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 Robenson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Robenson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Robenson is of English origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "roba" and "sunu," meaning "robe" and "son," respectively. This suggests that the name initially referred to the son of someone who made or sold robes, or perhaps a person who wore a distinctive robe.
Variations of the spelling, such as Robensson and Robinsone, can be found in medieval records from various parts of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Robensone.
In the 14th century, the Robenson surname appears in the Court Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a William Robenson is documented in 1349. During this period, the name was also associated with several landowners and tenants in various parts of England.
The Robenson surname gained prominence in the 16th century, with notable individuals including William Robenson (c. 1520-1592), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another notable figure was John Robenson (1575-1625), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and was a respected theologian of his time.
In the 17th century, the name is found in the records of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America. Thomas Robenson (c. 1590-1645) was one of the early colonists who arrived in Virginia in 1619.
During the 18th century, the Robenson surname gained literary significance with the English poet and playwright Mary Robenson (1703-1768), who was renowned for her satirical works and her association with prominent figures of the Augustan Age.
In the 19th century, the name was carried by Sir John Robenson (1818-1892), a British naval officer and explorer who made significant contributions to the mapping of the Arctic regions and the search for the Northwest Passage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robenson 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. Yorkshire leads with 13 Robensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 13 | 3.74x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.44x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 7.41x |
| Durham | 3 | 2.87x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 5.14x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.57x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 6.06x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 5.50x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 7.54x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.84x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stapleton in Yorkshire leads with 8 Robensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 40000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stapleton | 8 | 40000.00x |
| Hulme | 6 | 68.97x |
| Cleasby | 5 | 25000.00x |
| Mileham | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 2 | 44.25x |
| Hinckley | 2 | 217.39x |
| Northampton Priory St | 2 | 101.01x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 80.00x |
| Govan | 1 | 3.56x |
| Hellesdon | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Henllan | 1 | 294.12x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.94x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 7.75x |
| Stranton | 1 | 28.41x |
| Wolstanton Chesterton | 1 | 163.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Robenson 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 Robenson 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 Robenson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Dress Maker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Brickyard Laboura | 1 |
| Broker | 1 |
| Cap Maker (Hat) | 1 |
| Cook Domc Serv | 1 |
| Fireman (2) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Governess (Teacher) | 1 |
| Labourer Gen | 1 |
| Patern Card Maker | 1 |
| Plumber And Gasfitter | 1 |
| Pupil | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Robenson surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Robenson a modern rank of #37,967.
An anglicized form of the French surname "Robinsson", meaning "son of Robin."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Robenson 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.