Show ContentsRoberton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Among the the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Roberton were the Strathclyde-Britons. Roberton was a name for someone who lived in Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Roberton family

The surname Roberton was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat in Roberton from very ancient times. The name was given by Robert, brother of Lambin, about the year 1220, often confused with Robertson, this name appears to be as old as if not older than the Robertsons of Struan.

Early History of the Roberton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roberton research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1329, 1390, 1408, 1487, 1590, 1600, 1664 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Roberton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roberton Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Roberton has been spelled Roberton, Robertoun, Robertown and others.

Early Notables of the Roberton family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • James Roberton, Lord Bedlay (c. 1590-1664), a Scottish advocate and judge...
  • He was son of Archibald Roberton, and grandson of John Roberton of Earnock1...


United States Roberton migration to the United States +

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them:

Roberton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Roberton who arrived in Philadelphia in 1829

Contemporary Notables of the name Roberton (post 1700) +

  • Alexander William "Sandy" Roberton (d. 2021), Scottish record producer and music business owner
  • John Roberton (1797-1876), Scottish surgeon, born near Hamilton, Lanarkshire, member of the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh in 1817

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. George Edward Roberton (d. 1912), aged 19, English Assistant Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 2


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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