Show ContentsRobbynsum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Robbynsum family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name Robin, which was the diminutive of the personal name Robert. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Robbynsum family

The surname Robbynsum was first found in Yorkshire, where one of the first records of the name was John Robynson who was on record in 1324 in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield. Years later in Lancashire, we found Richard Robynson listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1332. 4

Later again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Roger Robynsoun; Roger Robyn-man (the servant of Robin); and Adam Robyn-man (the servant of Robin), 1370. 5

The surname is "distributed all over England, except in the south - west, where it is either absent or extremely rare. Its great home is in the northern half of the country, the numbers rapidly diminishing as we approach the south of England. Northamptonshire may be characterised as the most advanced stronghold of the Robinsons on their way to the metropolis." 6

Further to the north in Scotland, early entries are rare, so one can presume the name migrated there at some point: "the tenement of John Robynson in Irvine is mentioned in 1426, and another John Robynsone was bailie of Glasgow in 1477. Andrew Robersoun witnessed the sale of a tenement in Arbroath in 1450. The name was common in Glasgow in the sixteenth century." 7

Early History of the Robbynsum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robbynsum research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1576, 1584, 1585, 1610, 1614, 1615, 1625, 1629, 1645, 1655, 1660, 1662, 1667, 1668, 1669, 1670, 1680, 1684, 1686, 1689, 1700, 1701, 1705, 1708, 1712, 1717 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Robbynsum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Robbynsum Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Robbynsum include Robinson, Robenson, Robbison, Robbinson, McRobin and others.

Early Notables of the Robbynsum family

Distinguished members of the family include Nicholas Robinson (Died 1585) Welsh Bishop of Bangor, born at Conway in North Wales; and his son, Hugh Robinson (1584-1655), Welsh Archdeacon of Gloucester, born in Anglesea; Clement Robinson (fl. 1566-1584), an English song-writer and editor; John Robinson (1576-1625), known as the "Pilgrim Pastor," who was the first pastor and inspiration to the church of the Pilgrim Fathers; Luke Robinson (c 1610-1669), of Riseborough, an English Member of Parliament and of the Council of State during the Commonwealth period; Ralph...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Robbynsum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Robbynsum family to Ireland

Some of the Robbynsum family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 159 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Robbynsum family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Robbynsum were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Robinson, who immigrated to Virginia in 1606; Isaac and Bridget Robinson, who arrived in Plymouth in 1629; Alister, Charles, James, and Daniel Robinson, who all settled in Boston in 1651.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. 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)


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