Show ContentsRobbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The chronicles of the Robbe family indicate that the name was first used by the Strathclyde Britons of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Robbe is derived from the personal name Robert, which is composed of the elements hrod, meaning famous, and berht, meaning bright. [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Robbe family

The surname Robbe was first found in Stirlingshire, but we must look to Aberdeen to find one of the more interesting entries, that of Beatriux and Issobell Robie (Robye) who were listed as witches in 1597 which was not that unusual of the religious conflicts of that time. [3]

Jok Robb was a voter in Monkland in 1519 and Nicholas Rob was a witness in Dumfriesshire in 1542. John Rob was a witness in Glasgow in 1551 and 1554. [3]

While the name is traditionally Scottish, to the south in England early records were also found. Richard Robbe, Robe was found in the Pipe Rolls for Sussex in 1177-1178 and Richard Robbe was found in Somerset in 1212. Later, Simon Robes was listed in 1319 and Adam Robbes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. [4]

Early History of the Robbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robbe research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1542, 1551, 1554, 1646, 1688, 1709, 1713, 1740, 1753 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Robbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Robbe Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Robbe has been spelled Robb, Robbie, Roby, Robe, MacRobbie, MacRobb and others.

Early Notables of the Robbe family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Robe (1688-1753), Scottish Presbyterian divine, son of Michael Robe, minister of Cumbernauld. He studied at Glasgow University, and was licensed by the presbytery of Linlithgow in 1709. In 1713...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Robbe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Robbe Ranking

In France, the name Robbe is the 1,560th most popular surname with an estimated 3,810 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Robbe family to Ireland

Some of the Robbe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Robbe migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were:

Robbe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Robbe, who arrived in New England in 1726 [6]
Robbe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bernd Jos Robbe, who arrived in America in 1814-1820 [6]
  • Herm Heinr Robbe, who landed in America in 1848 [6]
  • Hen Robbe, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 [6]
  • William Robbe, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 [6]
  • George Robbe, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Robbe (post 1700) +

  • Scott Douglas Robbe (1955-2021), American film, television, and theater producer/director, and veteran activist, founding member of both ACT UP and Queer Nation
  • Charles A. Robbe (d. 1900), American politician, Mayor of Augusta, Georgia, 1899-1900 [7]
  • Robbe De Hert (b. 1942), English born, Belgian film director from Farnborough, Hampshire


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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