UK surname
A Norman surname derived from the place name Robertville in Belgium.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Robie surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Banchory-Ternan, Edinburgh and Irvine. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robie is 105 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.2%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1851
105 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Robie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Robie surname density by area, 1851 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 51 | #27,498 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 36 | #31,465 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Banchory-Ternan, Edinburgh, Irvine, Peterculter and Tottenham. 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 | Banchory-Ternan | Kincardine |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Irvine | Ayr |
| 4 | Peterculter | Aberdeen |
| 5 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Robie 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 Robie, 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 Robie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Robie 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, Robie 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 Robie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Robie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Robie originated in France and is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "rod," meaning "famous" or "renowned." It first emerged in the northern region of Normandy in the early Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 8th or 9th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Robies de Normanville, suggesting the name's Norman roots.
In the 12th century, the name was found in various forms, such as Roby, Robey, and Robie, in records from the regions of Normandy and Brittany. These variations likely stemmed from the differences in local dialects and scribal interpretations.
The name's association with place names is evident in the case of Robert Robie, a wealthy merchant from the town of Rouen, who lived in the late 13th century. His surname was likely derived from the town's name, which itself comes from the Gaulish word "Ratomagos."
Another notable figure was Sir John Robie, a English knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was born in 1320 and died in 1385.
During the 16th century, the Robie family established itself in England, with several members holding prominent positions. One such individual was Sir William Robie (1525-1592), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Gloucestershire.
In the 17th century, the name crossed the Atlantic with the wave of English settlers in North America. Peter Robie (1619-1693) was among the early settlers in Massachusetts, arriving in the 1630s and becoming a prominent figure in the town of Boston.
Another notable bearer was John Robie (1688-1768), a successful merchant and shipowner in Marblehead, Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the town's maritime trade during the colonial era.
Throughout its history, the surname Robie has been associated with various professions, from merchants and landowners to military officers and members of Parliament, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robie 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. Ayrshire leads with 9 Robies recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire | 9 | 27.41x |
| Durham | 8 | 6.13x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 17.22x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.37x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.77x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.35x |
| Angus | 1 | 2.46x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 4.40x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.67x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 18.73x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.70x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Irvine in Ayrshire leads with 9 Robies recorded in 1881 and an index of 989.01x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Irvine | 9 | 989.01x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 8 | 141.59x |
| Kemnay | 5 | 2000.00x |
| Tottenham | 4 | 57.22x |
| Gorton | 3 | 61.35x |
| Govan | 2 | 5.70x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 5.66x |
| West Bromwich | 2 | 23.58x |
| Ashton On Mersey | 1 | 200.00x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 64.10x |
| Birse | 1 | 625.00x |
| Drumoak | 1 | 714.29x |
| Edinburgh St Georges | 1 | 81.97x |
| Garvock | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.16x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 36.50x |
| Maryton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Pannal | 1 | 238.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Robie 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 Robie 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 Robie households.
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Robie surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Robie a modern rank of #36,533.
A Norman surname derived from the place name Robertville in Belgium.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Robie 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.