Show ContentsRoberson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Roberson originated among the descendants of the ancient Pictish clans. It is derived from the personal name Robert. This name is composed of the old English elements hroth, which means fame, and berht, which means bright. Although this Clan had the early appearance of being English, the Robsons were one of the four principal Clans of the North Tyne area just south of the Scottish Border in the sixteenth century. Their progenitor was Robert, the second son of George Gunn, the Crowner of Scotland. The Gunn Clan territories were in northern Scotland and they were of Norse origin together with their overlords, the Sinclairs.

Early Origins of the Roberson family

The surname Roberson was first found in Northumberland, where the name was quite distinct from both Robinson and Robertson, although in early records of the Clan the Robson name was frequently spelled Robison, literally Robi's son.

"Northumberland is the great home of the Robsons, particularly the district of North Tyne, where they have been established since the 12th or 13th century (C.). They formed one of the four principal clans of North Tyne in the 16th century, and were the hereditary foes of the Armstrongs of Liddesdale on the Scottish side of the border. Though scattered over Northumberland, the Robsons are still numerous in North Tyne; and in the parish of Falstone, where as 'lairds' they have held property for some 400 years, they are yet well represented. The name has obtained but little hold across the border, but it has extended southward in force into the county of Durham; it reaches Yorkshire in diminished numbers, and dies out in Lincolnshire." 1

In Scotland, the name first appears soon after the death of George Gunn in the 15th century: Patrick Robson was recorded in 1436, Donald Robson in 1446 and Wyllie Robyson witnessed a feud in 1476. From this point the Clan flourished on both sides of the border, with the Chiefly branch on the Scottish side. It is not altogether surprising that with this Clan straddling the England-Scotland border a John and Edward Robison were charged with defrauding the king's customs in 1524. 2

"The English Robsons formed one of the four principal clans of North Tyne in the sixteenth century. In Bullein's Dialogue they are described as 'a wight riding sirname, good honest men and true, saving a little shifting for their living.' " 2

Early History of the Roberson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roberson research. Another 331 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1567, 1587, 1590, 1597, 1598, 1600, 1604, 1613, 1615, 1616, 1619, 1620, 1623, 1629, 1633, 1638, 1650, 1654 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Roberson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roberson Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Roberson include Robson, Robison, Robeson, Robisonn and others.

Early Notables of the Roberson family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Charles Robson (1598-1638), English divine, first chaplain at Aleppo, of Cumberland parentage, the son of Thomas Robson, master of the Free School of Carlisle. "Born in 1598, having entered Queen's College, Oxford, as batler at Easter 1613, he matriculated thence on 5 May 1615, aged 17. He graduated B.A...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Roberson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roberson Ranking

In the United States, the name Roberson is the 474th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Roberson family to Ireland

Some of the Roberson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Roberson migration to the United States +

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as Clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Roberson:

Roberson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Lamber Roberson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1791 4
Roberson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Roberson, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 4
  • Teodoro Roberson, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 4
  • Robert Roberson, who arrived in Mobile, Alabama in 1856 4
  • Geo. G. Roberson, aged 38, who arrived in America in 1893
  • Clemont Roberson, aged 48, who arrived in America in 1896
Roberson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Basil Henry Roberson, aged 31, who arrived in America from London, in 1906
  • Frank R. Roberson, aged 36, who arrived in America in 1907
  • Elinor Roberson, who arrived in America in 1911
  • Archibald Roberson, aged 4, who arrived in America from Glasgow, in 1921
  • Charles Lockhart Roberson, aged 46, who arrived in America from London, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Roberson (post 1700) +

  • Willie Roberson (b. 1913), American teenage hobo, one of the Scottsboro Boys, accused of rape aboard a train, convicted and finally receiving a full posthumous pardon on November 21, 2013
  • Eric Roberson (b. 1976), American R&B and soul singer-songwriter
  • Sidney Dean "Sid" Roberson (b. 1971), American former Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Ed Roberson, American poet, recipient of the 2008 Shelley Memorial Award
  • Charles Hugh "Chuck" Roberson (1919-1988), American cowboy, actor, and stuntman
  • Kevin Lynn Roberson (b. 1968), American Major League Baseball player
  • Anthony Roberson (b. 1983), American professional NBA basketball player
  • LaTavia Marie Roberson (b. 1981), American two-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter
  • Lee Edward Roberson (1909-2007), American founder of Tennessee Temple University
  • Christopher William Roberson (b. 1979), American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Roberson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Justus esto et non metue
Motto Translation: Be just and fear not


  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. 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)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)


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