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

Robin, 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 Robin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Robin in America

Robin is the 6510th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Robin surname appeared 5,212 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Robin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Robin 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 Robin

The surname Robin is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "robin" meaning a small bird, specifically the European Robin. The name first emerged in Normandy, northern France, during the 12th century.

The name was likely initially a nickname given to someone who resembled the small, reddish-breasted bird in appearance or behavior. It may have also been used as an occupational name for those who caught or sold robins. The surname spread throughout France and eventually to other parts of Europe and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Robin can be found in the Rolls of the Parliament of Paris from 1313, which mentions a "Jehan Robin." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also lists a "Robertus dictus Robin" in Oxfordshire, England.

In England, the surname Robin has been present since at least the 13th century. It was often anglicized as "Robyn" or "Robbins." The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 include a "Thomas Robyn," while the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 list a "John Robyn."

Some notable historical figures with the surname Robin include:

1. Gilles Robin (c. 1520-1585), a French mathematician and astronomer.
2. Jean Robin (1550-1629), a French botanist and herbalist, best known for his work on the classification of plants.
3. Vespasien Robin (1579-1662), a French lawyer and author of several legal treatises.
4. Claude Robin (1679-1751), a French physician and anatomist, known for his research on the lymphatic system.
5. Jean-Baptiste Robin (1767-1847), a French lawyer and politician who served as a member of the National Convention during the French Revolution.

The name Robin has also been associated with various place names, particularly in France, such as Robin in Normandy, Robion in Provence, and Robinet in Burgundy. These place names may have influenced the spread and evolution of the surname in certain regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Robin

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

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

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

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