Robinson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Robinson is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the baptismal name Robin, which was a diminutive of the personal name Robert, and refers to "a son of Robin or Robert."
Early Origins of the Robinson family
The surname Robinson was first found in Yorkshire, where a John Richard Robunson was on record in 1324 in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield, and a Thomas Robynson was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379. 1
The Robinson family in Ireland is typically found in Ulster where they migrated to in the Plantation of Ireland.
Early History of the Robinson family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robinson research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1576, 1625, 1645, 1670, 1680, 1684, 1686, 1700, 1701, 1712, 1754, 1775, 1833 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Robinson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Robinson Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Robinson, Robenson, Robbison, Robbinson, McRobin and others.
Early Notables of the Robinson family
Distinguished members of the family include
- John Robinson (1576-1625), known as the "Pilgrim Pastor," who was the first pastor and inspiration to the church of the Pilgrim Fathers, Henry Crabb Robinson (1775-1867), a foreign correspondent for T...
- Bryan Robinson (1680-1754), was an Irish physician and writer who graduated as a physician from Trinity College, Dublin. 2
Robinson World Ranking
In the United States, the name Robinson is the 20th most popular surname with an estimated 579,471 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Robinson is ranked the 30th most popular surname with an estimated 47,171 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Robinson is the 539th popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Robinson as 689th with 63 people. 6 Australia ranks Robinson as 29th with 48,735 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Robinson as 17th with 6,198 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Robinson as 13rd with 137,489 people. 9 South Africa ranks Robinson as 711st with 9,594 people. 10
Migration of the Robinson family to Ireland
Some of the Robinson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Robinson migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Robinson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- John Robinson, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607, died soon after
- Mr. John Robinson, aged 21,who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Margaret & John" 11
- Isaac and Bridget Robinson, who arrived in Plymouth in 1629
- Constance Robinson, who landed in New England in 1634 12
- Mr. Robert Robinson, aged 45, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "The Christian" in 1634 11
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- George Robinson, who landed in Virginia in 1706 12
- David Robinson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 12
- Anne Robinson, who landed in Virginia in 1717 12
- Catherine and Charles Robinson, who settled in Virginia in 1730
- James Robinson, who settled in Virginia in 1775
Robinson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Aistroppe Robinson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 12
- Barber Robinson, aged 5, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 12
- Hugh Robinson, who landed in America in 1809 12
- Isabella Robinson, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 12
- Gilbert Robinson, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1812 12
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Charles Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
- Ben j Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
- Edward Robinson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
- Hannah Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
- Elizabeth Robinson, aged 30, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- William Robinson, who emigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1831 13
- George Robinson, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
- Joseph Robinson, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
- Bess Robinson, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
- Sarah Robinson, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Robinson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
- Mr. Michael Robinson, (Robinson, Massey), English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
- Mr. William Robinson, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Robinson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Miss Helen Robinson, (Nelly), British Convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
- Miss Sarah Robinson, (b. 1783), aged 17, English house wife who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1872 15
- Mr. Thomas Robinson, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
- Miss Mary Robinson, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
- Miss Elizabeth Robinson, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson 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:
Robinson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- John Robinson, aged 39, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
- Mary Robinson, aged 38, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
- Frederick Robinson, aged 20, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
- Amelia Robinson, aged 16, a sempstress, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
- Mr. Robinson, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Delhi" arriving in Bay of Islands, New Zealand on 16th August 1840 18
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Robinson migration to West Indies +
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association.
19Robinson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
- Mr. Edward Robinson, (b. 1616), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 12
- Mr. Thomas Robinson, (b. 1604), aged 31, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 20
- Mr. David Robinson, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 20
- Mr. John Robinson, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 20
- Mr. William Robinson, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 21
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Robinson (post 1700) +
- Ray Charles Robinson (1930-2004), birth name of Ray Charles, American musician, one of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"
- William "Smokey" Robinson (b. 1940), American musician, hailed as "the poet laureate of soul music," inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music
- Frank Robinson (1935-2019), American Major League Baseball player, MVP, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (1919-1972), American baseball player, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
- James Dixon Robinson III (1935-2024), American businessman, Chief Executive Officer of American Express Co. from 1977 until his retirement in 1993
- Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. (1937-2023), American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977
- Randall Robinson (1941-2023), American lawyer, author and activist, founder of TransAfrica
- C. Paul Robinson (1941-2023), American physicist, born in Detroit, Michigan who spent most of his career at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, recipient of the George E. Pake Prize (2003)
- Franklin Davis Robinson (1930-2022), American aeronautical engineer and founder of Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, California which developed the R44, one of the most successful civil helicopters in history
- Bill Robinson (1925-2022), American automobile designer, known for his work with Chrysler, creative designer from 1948 to 1980 and Briggs Manufacturing Company, notably designer of the 1957 Plymouth Fury which was awarded the 1957 Motor Trend Car of The Year Award
- ... (Another 95 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Robinson family +
Air New Zealand Flight 901
- Miss Betty Estelle Robinson (1943-1979), New Zealander passenger, from, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 22
Arrow Air Flight 1285
- Mr. Thomas E Robinson (1943-1985), American Sergeant from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 23
- Mr. William Robinson, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 24
- Miss Olive Robinson (1909-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
- Master Harold Robinson (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
- Mr. James William Robinson (1866-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
- Mrs. Emily Ethel Robinson, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
- Master Percy Robinson (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
- ... (Another 8 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hillsborough disaster
- Steven Joseph Robinson (1971-1989), English auto electrician who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 26
- Richard William Robinson (d. 1942), British Marine aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 27
HMS Dorsetshire
- Leslie Benjamin Robinson, British aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 28
- John Arthur Sutton Robinson (d. 1945), British Stoker 2nd Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 28
- Mr. Percival T Robinson (b. 1910), English Petty Officer Cook serving for the Royal Navy from Buckland, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
- Mr. Peter J Robinson (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Reigate, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
- Mr. Arthur E Robinson (b. 1901), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Sidlesham, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
- Mr. William Robinson, British Midshipman Royal Navy Reserve, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
- Mr. Robinson, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 30
- Mr. James Robinson (1916-1944), British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking, died whilst a Prisoner of War in 1944 31
- Mr. James Robinson, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
- Mr. James Robinson, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 31
- Mr. William J Robinson, British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
- Mr. Ronald Frederick Robinson, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 31
- ... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
North Sea Flood
- Ivan Campbell Robinson, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
- Mr. Charles E. H. Robinson, American 1st Class Passenger from Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 32
- Mrs. Prudence Mary Rose Robinson, American 1st Class Passenger from Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 32
- Mr. William Robinson, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 32
- Mr. Allan William Robinson, American 3rd Class passenger from Clay Centre, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 33
- Mrs. Edith Robinson, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 33
- ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
- Mrs. Annie Robinson, aged 40, English Stewardess from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 11 34
- Mr. James William Robinson (d. 1912), aged 30, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 34
Senghenydd colliery
- Mr. John Robinson (b. 1880), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
USS Arizona
- Mr. Lewis P. Robinson, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 35
- Mr. Robert Warren Robinson, American Pharmacist's Mate Third Class from West Virginia, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 35
- Mr. Harold Thomas Robinson, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 35
- Mr. James William Robinson, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 35
- Mr. John James Robinson, American Electrician's Mate First Class from Oregon, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 35
Suggested Readings for the name Robinson +
- Descendants of John Craig, Esquire and John Robinson, Senior, Scotch-Irish Immigrants to Lancaster County, South Carolina by Eloise Craig.
- Pioneer Pond People Plus Robinson and Allied Families by Betty Pond Snyder.
- Robinson and Related Families (1700-1990: Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama by Delton D. Blalock.
Citations +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
- "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
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
- "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
- "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
- Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- 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)
- Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
- Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
- American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
- Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
- Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
- Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
- Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
- Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
- HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
- HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
- Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
- Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html