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.