NameCensus.

UK surname

Robison

Son of Robin, a diminutive of Robert, meaning "bright fame."

In the 1881 census there were 678 people recorded with the Robison surname, ranking it #5,310 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 648, ranked #8,200, down from #5,310 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Abbey, Northumberland and Troqueer.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robison is 1,250 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

678

Ranked #5,310

Modern count

648

2016, ranked #8,200

Peak year

1851

1,250 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Robison had 678 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,310 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 648 in 2016, ranked #8,200.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,250 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Robison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robison 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 1,250 #2,283
1861 historical 935 #2,963
1881 historical 678 #5,310
1891 historical 643 #6,038
1901 historical 568 #7,369
1911 historical 448 #8,538
1997 modern 557 #8,579
1998 modern 603 #8,365
1999 modern 614 #8,314
2000 modern 616 #8,276
2001 modern 602 #8,280
2002 modern 621 #8,244
2003 modern 606 #8,261
2004 modern 605 #8,299
2005 modern 602 #8,256
2006 modern 610 #8,182
2007 modern 606 #8,287
2008 modern 600 #8,417
2009 modern 601 #8,591
2010 modern 620 #8,568
2011 modern 618 #8,490
2012 modern 611 #8,486
2013 modern 632 #8,391
2014 modern 638 #8,380
2015 modern 639 #8,304
2016 modern 648 #8,200

Geography

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Where Robisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Dumfries. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Abbey, Northumberland, Troqueer, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton and Doon Valley North. 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 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dumfries Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Abbey Dumfries and Galloway
2 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
3 Troqueer Dumfries and Galloway
4 Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton South Lanarkshire
5 Doon Valley North East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robison

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Robison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Robison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Robison 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

Robison 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

Robison falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Robison

The surname Robison has its origins in medieval Scotland, where it was derived from the old Scottish name Robertson, which translates to "son of Robert." The name Robert itself is derived from the Germanic elements "hrod" (meaning "fame" or "renown") and "berht" (meaning "bright" or "famous").

The Robison surname first emerged in the 12th century, with early recordings found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Ayrshire and Berwickshire, where it was often associated with prominent families and landowners.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a historical record of financial transactions and legal proceedings. One notable entry was that of John Robison, who served as a chamberlain to King David II in 1367.

The earliest recorded spelling variation of the name was "Robisoune," which appeared in the Ragman Rolls of 1296. Other early spellings included "Robysone," "Robisoyn," and "Robysoun."

Over the centuries, the Robison surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was James Robison, a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who lived from 1739 to 1805. He was a professor at the University of Edinburgh and is best known for his work in the fields of natural philosophy and mechanics.

Another prominent figure was George Robison (1737-1801), a Scottish physicist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the field of optics. He served as a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow and was a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

In the literary realm, Frederick Robison (1861-1937) was a Scottish author and journalist who wrote several books, including "Twixt Ben Nevis and Glencoe" and "The Life of a Scottish Probationer."

The American politician James Robison (1835-1924) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana, serving from 1891 to 1895.

More recently, Dr. James Robison (born 1943) is an American author, evangelist, and founder of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International.

While the Robison surname has evolved over time and spread across various countries, its roots can be traced back to the medieval Scottish Highlands, where it was deeply connected to the history and culture of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Robison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Robison 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. Northumberland leads with 118 Robisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.15x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 118 12.15x
Dumfriesshire 101 70.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 55 58.22x
Lanarkshire 50 2.37x
Yorkshire 45 0.70x
Durham 38 1.96x
Middlesex 37 0.57x
Lancashire 33 0.43x
Ayrshire 17 3.48x
Wigtownshire 13 15.00x
Cumberland 12 2.14x
Essex 11 0.85x
Roxburghshire 11 9.31x
Buteshire 10 25.29x
Staffordshire 10 0.45x
Norfolk 8 0.80x
Renfrewshire 8 1.58x
Surrey 8 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 7 1.16x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.45x
Gloucestershire 5 0.39x
Hampshire 5 0.37x
Lincolnshire 5 0.48x
Perthshire 5 1.71x
Suffolk 5 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.45x
Peeblesshire 4 13.03x
Sussex 4 0.36x
Argyllshire 3 1.65x
Hertfordshire 3 0.67x
Midlothian 3 0.34x
Shetland 3 4.50x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Berwickshire 2 2.53x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Kent 2 0.09x
Shropshire 2 0.35x
Banffshire 1 0.74x
Bedfordshire 1 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Fife 1 0.26x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Radnorshire 1 1.90x
Ross-shire 1 0.56x
Stirlingshire 1 0.42x
Sutherland 1 1.99x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Annan in Dumfriesshire leads with 47 Robisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.64x.

Place Total Index
Annan 47 379.64x
Tweedmouth 25 206.61x
Howick 20 2898.55x
Lochmaben 15 237.34x
Wooler 13 380.12x
Dalmellington 11 76.60x
Ross 11 6470.59x
Eccleshill 10 63.53x
Govan 10 1.92x
Rothesay 10 52.22x
Gateshead 9 6.19x
Glasgow 9 2.40x
Irongray 9 514.29x
Cadder 8 51.31x
East West Greenock 8 987.65x
Framwellgate 8 69.57x
Glencairn 8 206.19x
Hawick 8 30.25x
Islington London 8 1.26x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 26.63x
Urr 8 65.09x
Balmaghie 7 338.16x
Bothwell 7 12.23x
Hackney London 7 1.91x
Kelton 7 90.21x
Kirkmahoe 7 250.00x
Orrell 7 72.69x
Troqueer 7 56.50x
Walsall Foreign 7 6.15x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 4.76x
Bassingbourn 6 98.85x
Chatton 6 201.34x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 7.14x
Kirkmichael 6 314.14x
Mile End Old Town 6 5.82x
Norwich St Clement 6 51.59x
Seghill 6 126.05x
Spindleston 6 2222.22x
St Cuthbert Within 6 92.17x
Walthamstow 6 12.94x
Battersea 5 2.08x
Broughton In Salford 5 7.06x
Carmichael 5 285.71x
Everton 5 2.03x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 8.62x
Stradbroke 5 185.87x
Accrington 4 5.68x
Bow London 4 4.81x
Brighton 4 1.80x
Cheltenham 4 4.05x
Dalry 4 181.00x
Ditchburn 4 3076.92x
Ecclesfield 4 8.44x
Glasserton 4 148.70x
Holywood 4 165.98x
Hulme 4 2.47x
Kirkinner 4 111.73x
Leeds 4 1.10x
Newark Upon Trent 4 12.65x
Penrith 4 19.27x
St Mungo 4 270.27x
Tongland 4 216.22x
Westoe 4 3.63x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 14.58x
Dalry 3 13.05x
Dewsbury 3 4.52x
Dryfesdale 3 45.18x
Hamilton 3 5.10x
Handsworth 3 5.53x
Harton 3 39.11x
Holy Trinity 3 1.93x
Houghton Le Spring 3 22.35x
Kensington London 3 0.83x
Makerston 3 352.94x
Northmavine 3 59.06x
Penninghame 3 33.94x
Preston 3 1.45x
Southcoates 3 8.36x
Terregles 3 285.71x
Tweedsmuir 3 612.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 14
Jane 13
Elizabeth 12
Ann 9
Margaret 7
Annie 6
Alice 5
Hannah 5
Ellen 4
Isabella 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Janet 3
Jessie 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
M. 2
Matilda 2
Agnis 1
Amy 1
Betsey 1
C. 1
Carol 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Ellenor 1
Emiley 1
Ethel 1
Fortune 1
Georgie 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabell 1
J. 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
M.A.E. 1
Williamson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
James 21
Robert 16
William 15
Thomas 12
George 9
Joseph 9
Alexander 6
Charles 6
Adam 5
Henry 4
Andrew 3
David 3
Fred 3
Richard 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Gavin 2
Harry 2
Jos. 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
Clement 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Edward 1
Ezeckle 1
Frank 1
Gordon 1
Hugh 1
J.A.H. 1
Jacob 1
Jas.C. 1
Jim 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Matilda 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Robt 1
Robt. 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
Thompson 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Robison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Robison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 678 people were recorded with the Robison surname. That placed it at #5,310 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Robison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 648 in 2016. That gives Robison a modern rank of #8,200.

What does the Robison surname mean?

Son of Robin, a diminutive of Robert, meaning "bright fame."

What does the Robison map show?

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