Find out how popular the last name Robb is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Robb.

Robb, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Robb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Robb in America

Robb is the 2686th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Robb surname appeared 13,402 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Robb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Robb to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Robb

The surname Robb has its origins in the northern English counties, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name Rodbriht or Rodbyret, which was composed of the elements "rod" meaning "bright" or "famous" and "briht" or "byret" meaning "nobility" or "illustrious."

The earliest recorded instances of the Robb surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, there is a mention of Rodbertus de Rylestone, which could be an early variation of the name. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Robb name, but it does list individuals with similar names like Rodbert and Rodber.

As the surname evolved over time, various spellings emerged, such as Robbe, Robb, Roby, and Robbie. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects and linguistic changes. In the 16th century, the surname Robb began to appear more frequently in parish records and other historical documents across northern England.

One notable individual bearing the Robb surname was Sir John Robb (c. 1530-1597), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1592 and was known for his involvement in the Virginia Company, which aimed to establish English colonies in North America.

Another historical figure was James Robb (1688-1753), a Scottish architect and mason who worked on several significant buildings, including the Old College of Glasgow University and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. His contributions to Scottish architecture during the 18th century are widely recognized.

In the literary world, David Robb (1812-1890) was a Scottish poet and writer from Renfrewshire. He published several volumes of poetry, including "Poems and Songs" in 1857, and was known for his depictions of rural life and the Scottish landscape.

Isabella Robb (1840-1923) was a notable figure in the women's suffrage movement in Scotland. She was a founding member of the Glasgow Association for the Promotion of Women's Suffrage and actively campaigned for women's rights and political representation.

Sir John Robb (1879-1953) was a British civil engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of hydraulic engineering and water supply systems. He was knighted in 1948 for his services to the engineering profession.

The Robb surname has a rich history rooted in northern England, with various spellings and notable individuals who have carried the name throughout the centuries. While its origins can be traced back to Old English personal names, the surname has evolved and spread across different regions, leaving a lasting mark on various fields, from literature and architecture to engineering and political activism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Robb

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Robb.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Robb was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Robb has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Robb was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Robb, please contact us.

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