NameCensus.

UK surname

Robers

An occupational surname derived from the French word "rober," meaning "to rob," possibly indicating an ancestor's involvement in banditry or tax collection.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Robers surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monmouthshire, Wirral and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robers is 173 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.9%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

25

2016, ranked #36,324

Peak year

1891

173 bearers

Map years

3

1891 to 1998

Key insights

  • Robers had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016, ranked #36,324.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Robers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robers surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robers 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 173 #16,600
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 75 #30,668
2001 modern 30 #34,753
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 28 #35,200
2004 modern 25 #35,610
2005 modern 25 #35,752
2006 modern 25 #35,903
2007 modern 28 #35,801
2008 modern 30 #35,736
2009 modern 31 #35,794
2010 modern 34 #35,730
2011 modern 28 #36,071
2012 modern 18 #36,723
2013 modern 17 #36,857
2014 modern 19 #36,740
2015 modern 25 #36,297
2016 modern 25 #36,324

Geography

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Where Robers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, St Mary Islington, Heswall and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Monmouthshire, Wirral, Tewkesbury, Shropshire and Isle of Anglesey. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Heswall Cheshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Monmouthshire 007 Monmouthshire
2 Wirral 035 Wirral
3 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
4 Shropshire 016 Shropshire
5 Isle of Anglesey 002 Isle of Anglesey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robers

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Robers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Robers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Robers is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Robers is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Robers falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Robers

The surname ROBERS is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a variant spelling of the occupational surname "Robber," which referred to someone who made or sold robes.

In the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled "Robber" or "Robbere," and it appeared in various historical records and documents from that time. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, England, from 1273, where a person named Thomas Robbere was listed.

As the English language evolved, the spelling of the name gradually transformed from "Robbere" to "Rober" and eventually "ROBERS." This transition was likely influenced by regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in medieval times.

The name ROBERS can be found in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a William Rober. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1334 list a John Rober.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname ROBERS was Richard ROBERS, born around 1350 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure was Sir John ROBERS (c. 1420-1492), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol, England. He played a significant role in the city's trade and was involved in various civic affairs.

In the 16th century, the name ROBERS appeared in the records of the College of Arms in London, where a coat of arms was granted to the ROBERS family of Gloucestershire in 1583.

During the 17th century, Thomas ROBERS (1609-1675) was a well-known English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wolvercote in Oxfordshire.

In the 18th century, William ROBERS (1737-1803) was a renowned English engraver and artist known for his intricate landscapes and architectural prints.

Throughout its history, the surname ROBERS has been associated with various place names and locations, including ROBERS Cross in Gloucestershire, ROBERS Green in Oxfordshire, and ROBERS Hill in Worcestershire, suggesting the family's longstanding presence in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robers 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 4 Robers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.70x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 4 37.70x
Denbighshire 4 60.33x
Glamorgan 3 9.81x
Gloucestershire 3 8.71x
Caernarfonshire 1 14.08x
Durham 1 1.91x
Middlesex 1 0.57x
Staffordshire 1 1.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Henllan in Denbighshire leads with 4 Robers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2352.94x.

Place Total Index
Henllan 4 2352.94x
Wooburn 4 2666.67x
Clase 3 263.16x
Deerhurst 3 6000.00x
Aberdaron 1 1428.57x
Paddington London 1 15.48x
South Shields 1 212.77x
Walsall Borough 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriet 2
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Hariet 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1
Miriam 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Robers households.

FAQ

Robers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Robers surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Robers a modern rank of #36,324.

What does the Robers surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the French word "rober," meaning "to rob," possibly indicating an ancestor's involvement in banditry or tax collection.

What does the Robers map show?

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