NameCensus.

UK surname

Robets

A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone of a robust or stout nature.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Robets surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Ruabon and Swindon, Lyddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Conwy and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robets is 257 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

20

2016, ranked #36,679

Peak year

1891

257 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Robets had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016, ranked #36,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 257 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Robets surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robets surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robets 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 257 #12,476
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 20 #35,894
2003 modern 13 #36,620
2004 modern 8 #37,346
2005 modern 6 #37,724
2006 modern 6 #37,788
2007 modern 6 #37,837
2008 modern 7 #37,735
2009 modern 14 #37,041
2010 modern 16 #36,937
2011 modern 17 #36,839
2012 modern 16 #36,897
2013 modern 18 #36,787
2014 modern 17 #36,888
2015 modern 19 #36,736
2016 modern 20 #36,679

Geography

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Where Robets' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Ruabon, Swindon, Lyddington, Denbigh, Henllan and Festiniog. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Conwy, Swansea and Test Valley. 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 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
2 Ruabon Denbighshire
3 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
4 Denbigh, Henllan Denbighshire
5 Festiniog Merionethshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 005 Flintshire
2 Conwy 015 Conwy
3 Conwy 001 Conwy
4 Swansea 027 Swansea
5 Test Valley 008 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robets

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robets

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Robets, 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 Robets surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Robets 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Robets is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Robets is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Robets falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robets is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Robets

The surname ROBETS is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "robet," which referred to a type of coarse woolen cloth or a garment made from such material. This cloth was often worn by peasants and lower-class individuals, suggesting that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for a person involved in the production or trade of this fabric.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROBETS name can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a collection of charters and records from the Abbey of Saint-Père in Chartres, France, dating back to the 13th century. In these documents, the name appears in various spellings such as "Robet," "Robetz," and "Robets."

During the 14th century, the name appears to have spread to other regions of France, as evidenced by records from Normandy and Brittany. In the 15th century, the ROBETS surname can be found in the tax rolls of the city of Paris, indicating that the family had established a presence in the French capital.

One notable individual with the ROBETS surname was Jean Robets, a French merchant and ship owner who lived in the port city of La Rochelle in the late 16th century (born around 1550, died circa 1620). He was involved in the lucrative wine trade between France and England, and his ships frequently sailed between the two countries.

In the 17th century, the ROBETS name can be traced to the French colonies in North America, particularly in the regions of Quebec and Acadia (present-day Canadian Maritime provinces). Louis Robets (born around 1625, died circa 1690) was one of the earliest settlers with this surname in Acadia, where he established a family and worked as a farmer.

Another notable figure was Pierre Robets (born in 1720, died in 1799), a French military officer who served in the French and Indian War and later fought in the American Revolutionary War as a member of the Continental Army. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

In the 19th century, the ROBETS surname continued to be present in various regions of France, with pockets of families in Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region around Paris. One prominent individual from this period was Émile Robets (born in 1845, died in 1923), a French artist and painter known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life in the Normandy region.

While the ROBETS surname is not among the most common in France today, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period, reflecting the country's cultural heritage and the diverse occupations and backgrounds of its bearers over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robets families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robets 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. Flintshire leads with 10 Robets' recorded in 1881 and an index of 190.84x.

County Total Index
Flintshire 10 190.84x
Denbighshire 2 27.17x
Lancashire 2 0.87x
Middlesex 2 1.03x
Montgomeryshire 2 44.74x
Royal Navy 2 86.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bronington in Flintshire leads with 8 Robets' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16000.00x.

Place Total Index
Bronington 8 16000.00x
Llanrwst Capel Garmon 2 3333.33x
North Meols 2 88.50x
Royal Navy 2 101.01x
Shoreditch London 2 23.67x
Tregynon 2 4000.00x
Ysceifiog 2 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Harriott 1
Kate 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Frank 1
George 1
John 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 Robets households.

FAQ

Robets surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robets surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Robets surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robets surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Robets a modern rank of #36,679.

What does the Robets surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname referring to someone of a robust or stout nature.

What does the Robets map show?

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