Show ContentsRoebuck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Roebuck is a name whose history is entwined with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person who because of their physical characteristics were referred to as roebuck. In this case roebuck was associated with the qualities of purity and fleetness, qualities the original bearer possessed.

Early Origins of the Roebuck family

The surname Roebuck was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Roebuck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roebuck research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Roebuck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roebuck Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Roebuck, Robuck and others.

Early Notables of the Roebuck family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Roebuck of Kent

Roebuck Ranking

In the United States, the name Roebuck is the 5,020th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Roebuck migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Roebuck Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Roebuck, who landed in Maryland in 1674 2
Roebuck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jarvis Roebuck, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 2
Roebuck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Wood Roebuck, who arrived in America in 1806 2
  • Benjamin Disney Roebuck, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1808
  • John, John Wood, Nathan, William, William Roebuck all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1805 and 1876

Canada Roebuck migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Roebuck Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Luke Roebuck U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 234 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 3

Australia Roebuck migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Roebuck Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Roebuck, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4
  • Mr. Joseph Roebuck, (b. 1807), aged 34, English groom who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1873 5
  • Mr. Robert Roebuck, (b. 1806), aged 36, English convict who was convicted in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England for 10 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • John Roebuck, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
  • Mr. Joseph Roebuck, British convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Roebuck migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Roebuck Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Roebuck, aged 35, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 9
  • Elizabeth Roebuck, aged 30, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 9
  • Elizabeth Roebuck, aged 14, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 9
  • George Palmer Roebuck, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 9
  • Mary Ann Roebuck, aged 3, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Roebuck (post 1700) +

  • Alvah Curtis Roebuck (1864-1948), American businessman who co-founded the Sears-Roebuck company in 1893
  • Edward Jack Roebuck (1931-2018), American Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1955 to 1966
  • Daniel Randall Roebuck (b. 1963), American television and movie actor, writer and producer
  • Roy Delville Roebuck (1929-2023), British Labour Party politician and journalist, Member of Parliament for Harrow East from 1966 to 1970
  • Mrs. Winifred Leigh Roebuck M.B.E., British recipient of Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to British foreign policy and security 10
  • Thomas Roebuck (1781-1819), Scottish Orientalist, grandson of John Roebuck, the inventor, born in Linlithgowshire
  • John Roebuck (1718-1794), English inventor, born at Sheffield, was the son of John Roebuck, a prosperous manufacturer of Sheffield goods
  • Joseph "Joe" Roebuck (b. 1985), English two-time silver medalist swimmer at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
  • Peter Michael Roebuck (1956-2011), English cricketer
  • Neil Roebuck (b. 1969), English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, and 1990s
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
  7. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cornwall
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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