This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Robert.' The influence of this name was enormous, as our directories prove. Its chief nicks, were Hob and Dob, whence with dims. Hobkin, Hopkin, Dobinson, &c., which see. But the most famous diminutive was Robin. Hence our Robinsons, &c. (v. Robin).

Adam fil. Roberti, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Agatha fil. Roberti, Oxfordshire , ibid.

Thomas fil. Roberti, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

It is useless giving other Illustrations. It ran a fine race with Richard and Roger, one giving us the nicks. Hick and Dick, the other Hodge and Dodge, all of which see.

ROBERTS: 'son of Robert,' which see. John Roberts (1768-1803), American painter, mathematician, and scientist, was born in Scotland.

Robert’s (Son), v. Robert.

“Fame-Bright” in Old German (Rod-Bert). See also Hobbs, Hopkins and Nobbs.

(Welsh, Scottish, English) The son of Robert (fame, bright).

See Robert. The family of Roberts of Glassenbury, co. Kent, extinct baronets, according to a genealogy in Harl. MSS., are descended from a William Rookherst, a Scotchman, who settled in Kent, in the third year of Henry I., and purchased lands at Goudhurst, which he called after his own name. This name he afterwards changed to Roobertes, which finally became Roberts. The tradition of descent from a Scotchman may be true or not, but that a North Briton gave name to a place in Kent called Rookherst, is a pure figment. The termination herst, or hurst, is scarcely, if at all, known in Scotland, while the Weald of Kent, where the Robertses first appear, abounds with it. The truth, doubtless, is, that the locality called from Saxon times Rookherst, gave the name De Rookherst to its early possessors, and that one of them in later times-the son of a Robert-dropped his local surname, and assumed a patronymical one.

(Saxon.) From Bod, counsel, and bert or bericht, bright or famous—famous in counsel.

Roberts. —A name rare or absent in the northern counties, where it is partially represented by that of Robertson, of Northumberland, a name very numerous over the most part of Scotland. The great home of Roberts is in North Wales, and next in order come South Wales, Shropshire, Monmouthshire, and Cornwall. It is scattered over the rest of England, but is least common in the eastern counties. The Proberts (Ap - Robert) increase its frequency in Monmouthshire and Herefordshire, and, to a less extent, in South Wales.

The surnames Roberts and Robertson come from the first name Robert.

This first name derives originally from the centuries-old German name Rodbert, which is a combination of two Old German words. These are the word ‘hroth’ which means ‘fame’ and the word ‘berht’ which means ‘bright’. Thus the original Roberts were ‘fame-bright’, meaning in the literal sense much the same as our modern word ‘illustrious’.

When this name spread to France it became transformed to Robert, and as such it was imported to England by the Normans in 1066. Robert soon became very popular. The first name Robert and the surname form both appear frequently in the Domesday Book. From the earliest records this name also appears in several variations, the most common being Robin which by the thirteenth century had started giving rise to variations of its own. Nowadays it is often impossible to tell which of these variations spring from the original Robert, and which from Robin. They range through Rob, Dob, Hob, Bob and Nob. In Scotland the variants, Rab, Rabbie and Robbie (as in the poet Rabbie Burns) soon appeared.

This host of variations gave rise to numerous surnames, all of which derive from the same source as Roberts and Robertson. The most common of these are Robinson, Robbins, Robson, Robeson, Dobkins, Hobkins, and even Dobbs and Dobson. All of these mean ‘son or dependant of Robert’ (through a variation or diminutive). Other related names in common use include Robbett and Robb.

The earliest mention of a form of Roberts (or Robertson) used as a surname is in the Domesday Book records for Kent in 1086, where Willelmus filius Roberti is mentioned.

At least two Roberts have become religious figures with a strong appeal to the common man. One was Frederick William Robertson (1816—53), also known as ‘Robertson of Brighton. He was a charismatic Church of England clergyman whose eloquent and psychologically astute sermons made him widely popular among the working class. However, his ecumenical views and ideas on reform generated intense opposition from within the Church. Another is the Bible-thumping, fire­breathing US evangelist and faith healer, Oral Roberts, who draws crowds of thousands of faithful. He has founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University, both in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

English livery-stable owner Thomas Hobson (1554—1631) of Cambridge, earned himself a place in history with his habit of insisting customers take the horse that happened to be nearest the door. This led to the expression ‘Hobson’s Choice’, i.e. ‘this or none’.

Scottish choral conductor Hugh Robertson (1874—1952) founded Glasgow’s noted Orpheus Choir in 1906.

Legendary cricketer Sir Jack Hobbs (1882—1963) was one of the greatest batsmen England ever produced. His feats include making 3,636 runs, including 12 centuries, in test matches against Australia, and a record number of 197 centuries in first-class cricket including, in 1926, the highest score at Lords (316).

William Dobson (1610—46) succeeded Van Dyck as portrait painter to Charles I.

When Sir Robert Peel founded metropolitan London’s police force in 1829, constables were at first called ‘Peelers’, as they still are in Ireland (the term was first applied to the force Sir Robert founded in Ireland when he was Chief Secretary for that country). This was quickly superseded by the still- common term ‘Bobbies’, from his first name.

Five United Kingdom towns are related to this name: Robertson (2), Robert Hill, Robertsbridge and Roberttown. Canada has 3 Robertsvilles while the United States has 6 name-related cities and towns. Ireland has a Robertstown, Liberia a Roberts- field and a Robertsport and India a Robertsganji. Geographic namesakes are widespread.

With about 231,000 namesakes Roberts is the 9th most popular name in England and Wales, while with 42,000 Robertsons it is Scotland’s 6th most common surname. Roberts is notably popular in and around Liverpool where an estimated one in about 125 families bears the name. In descending numerical order Cardiff, Manchester and Birming­ham are other Roberts’ strongholds. Robertson is notably popular in and around Edinburgh (one in 99 families bears the name). Around the world Roberts and Robertson are most common in Wellington (one in 284 families), Canberra (one in 334) and Auckland (one in 345). The United States tallies Roberts and Robertsons together-an estimated combined total of just under 550,000 making this their 19th most popular surname.