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

Roby, 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 Roby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roby in America

Roby is the 3798th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roby surname appeared 9,315 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Roby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roby 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 Roby

The surname Roby has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "robe," which means "robe" or "garment." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who made or sold robes or clothing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roby can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Robi" and "Robei," indicating its presence in England during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, records show the name Roby being associated with various locations in Lancashire, England. For example, the village of Roby Mill was mentioned in historical documents from this period, and it is possible that the surname originated from this place name or a similar one.

One notable individual bearing the surname Roby was John Roby, a 16th-century English clergyman and scholar. Born in 1495, he served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1537 until his death in 1558. He was known for his involvement in the English Reformation and his support for the Protestant cause.

In the 17th century, Thomas Roby, an English soldier and politician, gained prominence. Born in 1619, he served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury and was actively involved in the English Civil War, fighting on the Parliamentarian side.

Another significant figure with the surname Roby was John Roby, an English Dissenting minister and author who lived from 1693 to 1768. He was known for his works on theology and his advocacy for religious freedom and nonconformity.

In the 18th century, the name Roby was also found in literary circles. William Roby, born in 1766, was an English writer and educator who authored several books on grammar and language instruction.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Roby continued to be present in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including religion, politics, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roby

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

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

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

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