NameCensus.

UK surname

Robeson

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Hrothbeorht's town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 213 people recorded with the Robeson surname, ranking it #12,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #12,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newbury, Kings Norton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kelso North, Kelso South and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robeson is 213 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.7%.

1881 census count

213

Ranked #12,328

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1881

213 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Robeson had 213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Robeson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robeson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robeson 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 213 #12,328
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 152 #20,948
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Robesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newbury, Kings Norton, London parishes, Battersea and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kelso North, Kelso South, Babergh, Bromley and Westerton 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 Newbury Berkshire
2 Kings Norton Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kelso North Scottish Borders
2 Kelso South Scottish Borders
3 Babergh 004 Babergh
4 Bromley 040 Bromley
5 Westerton East East Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robeson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robeson

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Robeson 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

Robeson is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Robeson falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Robeson

The surname Robeson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "hrop" meaning "cry" or "shout" and "botl" meaning "dwelling" or "house." The combination of these words suggests that the name may have referred to a noisy or rowdy household or perhaps a place known for its loud inhabitants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Robeson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Robertesun." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Other early spellings include "Robyson" and "Robynsone."

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Robeson began to appear in various historical records and documents across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire. These records often referred to individuals with the name in connection with land ownership or legal proceedings.

Notable individuals with the surname Robeson throughout history include:

1. Andrew Robeson (c. 1655-1719), a Scottish-American merchant and politician who served as the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. 2. Paul Robeson (1898-1976), an American actor, singer, and civil rights activist, renowned for his powerful performances and advocacy for social justice. 3. Esther Robeson (1627-1688), one of the first European settlers in what is now New Jersey, known for her role in establishing a settlement in the region. 4. William Robeson (1789-1854), an American politician and military officer who served as a Brigadier General during the War of 1812. 5. Anna Robeson Burr (1857-1928), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who served as the first female principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

The name Robeson has also been associated with various place names, such as Robeson County in North Carolina and Robeson Township in Pennsylvania, further solidifying its historical roots and geographical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robeson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robeson 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. Middlesex leads with 61 Robesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.95x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 61 2.95x
Berwickshire 24 95.85x
Surrey 24 2.38x
Lancashire 21 0.86x
Worcestershire 14 5.18x
Roxburghshire 13 34.70x
Berkshire 10 6.44x
Northumberland 9 2.93x
Oxfordshire 7 5.48x
Yorkshire 5 0.24x
Warwickshire 4 0.77x
Lanarkshire 3 0.45x
Staffordshire 3 0.43x
Gloucestershire 2 0.49x
Kent 2 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.52x
Angus 1 0.52x
Caithness 1 3.53x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.19x
Essex 1 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.52x
Renfrewshire 1 0.62x
Shropshire 1 0.56x
Suffolk 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Norton in Worcestershire leads with 14 Robesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.80x.

Place Total Index
Kings Norton 14 57.80x
Earlston 11 880.00x
Islington London 11 5.49x
Manchester 10 9.06x
Battersea 9 11.83x
Morpeth 9 248.62x
Smailholm 9 2812.50x
Bromley London 8 17.58x
Clerkenwell London 8 16.39x
Mile End Old Town 7 21.45x
Bethnal Green London 6 6.68x
Neithrop 6 139.86x
Newbury 6 120.72x
Penge 6 45.42x
Whitsome 6 1500.00x
Ardwick 5 22.59x
Eccles 5 454.55x
Westminster St John 5 19.86x
Birmingham 4 2.30x
Bow London 4 15.19x
Lilliesleaf 4 784.31x
Maghull 4 392.16x
Southcoates 4 35.15x
Burslem 3 15.00x
Croydon 3 5.36x
Hungerford 3 142.86x
Lambeth 3 1.66x
Camberwell 2 1.51x
Friern Barnet 2 43.86x
Hammersmith London 2 3.93x
Tewkesbury 2 55.25x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 2.50x
Barony 1 0.59x
Bermondsey 1 1.62x
Dundee 1 1.40x
Edrom 1 93.46x
Enfield 1 7.37x
Glasgow 1 0.84x
Govan 1 0.60x
Great Dunham 1 357.14x
Great Stanmore 1 107.53x
Hackney London 1 0.86x
Hendon 1 13.44x
Hengrave 1 714.29x
Kirkdale 1 2.42x
Latheron 1 21.10x
Lee 1 9.77x
Maidstone 1 4.76x
Mertoun 1 204.08x
Milford Haven 1 188.68x
Oxford St Giles 1 16.42x
Paisley High Church 1 7.84x
Prittlewell 1 17.67x
Sanquhar 1 62.11x
Sculcoates 1 3.08x
St George Hanover 1 3.71x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
St Pancras London 1 0.60x
Thatcham 1 41.84x
West Derby 1 1.39x
Westminster St 1 13.12x
Whitchurch 1 28.82x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 8
George 7
Henry 5
James 5
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Augustus 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Barnabas 1
Ben 1
David 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Hemming 1
Nathaniel 1
Peter 1
Robt.P. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Robeson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robeson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 213 people were recorded with the Robeson surname. That placed it at #12,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robeson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Robeson a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Robeson surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Hrothbeorht's town" in Old English.

What does the Robeson map show?

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