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

Robie, 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 Robie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Robie in America

Robie is the 15663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Robie surname appeared 1,864 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Robie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Robie 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 Robie

The surname Robie originated in France and is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "rod," meaning "famous" or "renowned." It first emerged in the northern region of Normandy in the early Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 8th or 9th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Robies de Normanville, suggesting the name's Norman roots.

In the 12th century, the name was found in various forms, such as Roby, Robey, and Robie, in records from the regions of Normandy and Brittany. These variations likely stemmed from the differences in local dialects and scribal interpretations.

The name's association with place names is evident in the case of Robert Robie, a wealthy merchant from the town of Rouen, who lived in the late 13th century. His surname was likely derived from the town's name, which itself comes from the Gaulish word "Ratomagos."

Another notable figure was Sir John Robie, a English knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was born in 1320 and died in 1385.

During the 16th century, the Robie family established itself in England, with several members holding prominent positions. One such individual was Sir William Robie (1525-1592), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Gloucestershire.

In the 17th century, the name crossed the Atlantic with the wave of English settlers in North America. Peter Robie (1619-1693) was among the early settlers in Massachusetts, arriving in the 1630s and becoming a prominent figure in the town of Boston.

Another notable bearer was John Robie (1688-1768), a successful merchant and shipowner in Marblehead, Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the town's maritime trade during the colonial era.

Throughout its history, the surname Robie has been associated with various professions, from merchants and landowners to military officers and members of Parliament, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Robie

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

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 Robie 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 Robie 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 Robie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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