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Show ContentsRobert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Robert surname is derived from the personal name Robert. This name was originally came from the Old German words "hrod" and "behrt," which mean "fame" and "bright." It was introduced to Britain by Normans during the time of Edward the Confessor, and became very popular. 1 A large number of diminutives and pet-forms were derived from this name in early times.

Early Origins of the Robert family

The surname Robert was first found in Kent, where a Willelmus filius Roberti was listed in the Domesday Book. Also from the Domesday Book, 2 we find a Robert the Bursar, Sheriff of Worcestershire, who held a castle at Tamworth, Staffordshire and had holdings in Gloucester, Leicester, Lincoln and Warwick; as well as Robert, son of Fafiton, who had holdings in Bedford, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Middlesex. 2

In the parish of Lanhydrock in Cornwall, an extensive branch of the family was established man years ago. "The founder of this noble family was Richard Robartes, a wealthy merchant of Truro, whose grandson married a co-heiress of Hender of Bottreaux Castle, and was created a Baronet in 1621, and in 1625 a peer, bearing the title of Lord Robartes of Truro. This nobleman was the father of John Lord Robartes, who lived at Lanhydrock in the civil war. Lanhydrock House is a venerable mansion, which, though modernized by John Lord Robartes, retains vestiges of more remote antiquity." 3

Early History of the Robert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robert research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1292, 1296, 1327, 1605, 1609, 1660, 1662, 1675 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Robert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Robert Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Robert, Roberts, Robart, Robarts, Robberds and many more.

Early Notables of the Robert family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Dr. Roberts, who was a member of the House of Lords in 1660
  • Sir William Roberts (1605-1662), of Neasden House at Willesden, Middlesex, an English Member of Parliament
  • Francis Roberts (1609-1675), an English puritan clergyman, author and librarian

Robert World Ranking

In the United States, the name Robert is the 2,533rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Robert is ranked the 191st most popular surname with an estimated 19,103 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Robert is the 86th popular surname. 6 France ranks Robert as 5th with 91,393 people. 7

Ireland Migration of the Robert family to Ireland

Some of the Robert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 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 Robert migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Robert or a variant listed above:

Robert Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Brian Robert, aged 27, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 8
  • Anthony Robert, who landed in Virginia in 1637 9
  • William Robert, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 9
  • Thomas Robert, who arrived in Maryland in 1657 9
  • James Robert, who settled in Maryland in 1666
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Louis Robert, who landed in Virginia in 1700 9
  • Jacques Robert, aged 33, who landed in Louisiana in 1720 9
  • Peter Robert, who arrived in South Carolina in 1755 9
  • Jacob Robert, who arrived in Long Island in 1781 9
  • George Robert, who arrived in New York in 1798 9
Robert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Roger Robert, who arrived in America in 1816 9
  • Jose Robert, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1835 9
  • Angel Robert, aged 53, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1840 9
  • Narcisse Robert, aged 40, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1841 9
  • John Robert, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1844 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robert Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Irene Robert, aged 18, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" 10

Canada Robert migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Robert Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Geoffroy Robert, (b. 1612), aged 30, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 31st March 1642 11
  • Guillaume Robert, aged 18, who landed in Montreal in 1653
  • Louis Robert, who settled in Quebec in 1665
  • Louis Robert, son of André and Catherine, who married Marie Bourgery, daughter of Jean-Baptiste and Marie, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on 25th November 1666 12
  • Charles Robert, son of Louis and Marie, who married Marie Leber, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Contrecoeur, Quebec on 9th January 1681 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robert Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Robert, son of Louis and Marie, who married Marie-Josephte Larrivé, daughter of Pierre and Denise, in Boucherville, Quebec on 26th December 1701 12
  • Joseph Robert, son of Jean and Anna, who married Madeleine Demers, daughter of Charles and Élisabeth, in Montreal, Quebec on 15th November 1711 12
  • Joseph Robert, son of Ignace and Jeanne, who married Marguerite Girard, daughter of Pierre-Jacques and Marguerite, in Varennes, Quebec on 13th April 1711 12
  • François Robert, son of Louis and Marie, who married Marie Lanctot, daughter of François and Marguerite, in Longueuil, Quebec on 26th January 1712 12
  • Jean-Baptiste Robert, son of Louis and Marie, who married Geneviève Brabant, daughter of Pierre and Marguerite, in Repentigny, Quebec on 5th February 1714 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robert Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Victor Robert, who landed in Red River, Canada in 1821

Australia Robert migration to Australia +

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

Robert Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Robert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pakenham" in 1849 13
  • Jonathan Robert, aged 34, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Neptune" 14
  • Patty Robert, aged 17, a dressmaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 15
  • Henry Robert, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Standard" 16
  • M. Robert, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Magdelana" 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Robert 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:

Robert Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Robert, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 18
  • Mrs. Robert, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 18
  • Mr. John R W P Robert, British settler travelling from Liverpool (Mersey) aboard the ship "Viscount Sandon" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand then Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in 1860 19
  • Mr. William Robert, (b. 1823), aged 37, British cabinetmaker travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 18
  • Mrs. Lucy Durell Robert, (b. 1826), aged 34, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Robert (post 1700) +

  • Arthur Robert (1943-1993), American tennis player
  • Ridgway Robert (b. 1850), American ornithologist
  • Maurice Robert (1930-2022), French academic and ethnologist
  • René Robert (1936-2022), Swiss photographer who specialized in photographing flamenco dancers
  • René Paul Robert (1948-2021), Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL)
  • Joël Robert (1943-2021), Belgian professional motocross racer who was one of the most successful motocross racers competing in the Motocross World Championships during the 1960s and early 1970s
  • Charles-Marie Robert Count d'Escorches de Sainte Croix, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 20
  • Charles Marie- Robert, Count d'Escorches de Sainte Croix, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 21
  • Simon Robert, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 22
  • Louis Benoît Robert, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 23
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. John Connelly Robert (d. 1985), American Flight First Officer from Miami, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 24
Bismarck
  • Klaus Robert (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 25
RMS Titanic
  • Mrs. Elisabeth Walton Robert, (née McMillan), aged 43, American First Class passenger from St. Louis, Missouri who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 2 26

Suggested Readings for the name Robert +

  • The Pioneer Rapids Families by George Mason Graham Stafford.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  9. 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)
  10. Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2192
  11. Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
  12. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PAKENHAM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Pakenham.htm
  14. South Australian Register Wednesday 26 October 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Neptune 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/neptune1853.shtml
  15. South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
  16. South Australian Register Monday 18th December 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1854.shtml
  17. South Australian Register Wednesday 17th January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdelana 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1855.shtml
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) Charles-Marie Robert. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  21. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, September 11) Charles Robert. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  22. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, August 27) Simon Robert. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  23. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, August 27) Louis Robert. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  24. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  25. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  26. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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