A male name. . Old English Hreodbeorht was reinforced at the time of the Norman Conquest by French Robert from the corresponding Old German Hrodebert, a compound of hrothi ‘fame’ and berhta ‘bright’. It occurs frequently in Domesday Book, and has been a favourite name ever since. The nicknames Rob, Hob, Dob, Nob and (later) Bob, were all commonly used, and Robin, a diminutive form of Rob, was in the 13th C more usual than Robert itself. Among the many surnames derived from Robert and its nicknames are Roberts, Robertson, Robins, Robinson, Robson, Robeson, Nobbs, Hobbs, Hobbes, Hobson, Hopkins, Dobb, Dobbs, Dobson, &c. In Middle English the form Roberd was not unusual (cf. Hubbard for Hubert), and is given in Promptorium Parvulorum as the English equivalent of Robertus. Robin is now sometimes used as an independent name.

Rodbertus, Rotbert, Rotbertus, Robert, Robertus Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1071-5, Domesday Book 1086. Robertus Curia Regis Rolls 1186-1220, Hundred Rolls 1273. Robin Curia Regis Rolls 1200, 1205, 1210, Close Rolls 1276. Robyn Coventry Mysteries 15th C. Robard Records of St. Mary at Hill, 1420-1559 (E.E.T.S. 125-8) 1507.

‘Hruadperaht, or bright fame, was the original form, the property of a bishop, who (ca. 700) founded the first Christian church at Wurms. Honoured alike in France and Germany, he became Ruprecht in the latter, and Robert in the former... Red was long supposed to be the origin of the name, which some made Redbert, or bright speech, others Redbeard! The German form, however, disproves both of these,’ Yonge. Robert, adopted from France, was soon thoroughly Anglicized. In France, it was, in the Middle Ages, a Royal name; throughout Europe, it was revered, still is revered, as the name of seven saints, of whom the most important are the founder (d. 1098), in France, of the Cistercian Order, a branch of the Benedictine, and Robert of Newminster, a Yorkshire priest (d. 1159), who ‘was united in spiritual friendship with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great Saint of the Age, and with St. Godric, the holy hermit of Durham’ (Benedictines). Whence Robin (q. v.), Rob, Hob (obsolete), Bob, and Rupert (q. v.).

A name derived from the Old German Ruadpert, Ruopreht, from rat-brecht, illustrious in counsel or illustrious councillor. The nicknames are Rob, Bob, Bobby, Hobb, Dobb, Dobbie, Dobby.

Teutonic (masculine) - Bright counsellor.

A Teutonic name, meaning: Bright fame.

Raibert, Robart, Rob, Middle Gaelic Robert, Roibert (1467 MS.); from English Robert, Anglo-Saxon Robert, from hrô, hrôð. fame, praise, and berht, bright, now bright, “bright fame.” Hence Robertsons (= Clann Donnchaidh), Mac-robbie.