The Robb surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 13,402 people carried this name — #2,686 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 22,000 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (13,455).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Robb surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Middle English Robb. From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Robert.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Robb» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Robert’.

His entry covers Rob and Robb.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 649 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 21 births for the Robb name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 900 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 19
Munster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Scotland, 1880s

Robb was 13 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 769. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Found over a large part of Scotland, but rare in the north.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 593 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Robb was recorded 111 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 225th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 186. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

49 families named Robb, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 277 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 22
New Hampshire 8
Virginia 5
Massachusetts 3
Connecticut 3
New York 3
Maryland 2
South Carolina 2
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 259 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Robb in American newspapers,
1852–1854.

Newspaper page from New Orleans Daily Crescent carrying the name Robb
New Orleans Daily Crescent 1852-03-17
Newspaper page from The Independent carrying the name Robb
The Independent 1854-06-14
Newspaper page from New Orleans Daily Crescent carrying the name Robb
New Orleans Daily Crescent 1852-03-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,384 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Robb in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

48,590 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Robb. The most, 8,397, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 15,780
Victoria 15,303
Queensland 7,538
Tasmania 3,883
South Australia 3,502
Western Australia 2,090
ACT (Canberra) 342
Northern Territory 29

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Robb.

Who carried it

People named Robb,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Edward Robb
    Edward Robb 1857–1934 · lawyer
  • James Robb
    James Robb 1859–1929 · politician
  • John Robb d. 1993 · writer
  • Archimedes Robb 1814–1875 · politician
  • James Robb 1814–1881
  • Mary Ann Robb 1829–1912 · botanical collector

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Robb,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,800 records

1,800 records of the Robb name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 509
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 390
  • Other U.S. records 901
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James G. Robb

    Born 1915 in Canada. Enlisted 1942 at Wausau, Wisconsin; bank clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Richland Center, Wisconsin.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Clyde A. Robb

    Born 1908 in Illinois. Enlisted 1942 at Peoria; machine shop worker from Peoria County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1972, buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Eidel Robb

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow and Moville, aged 25; servant. From Hamburg, Prussia, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,800 records for Robb in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,321 records

1,321 records of the Robb name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 692
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 273
  • Other Australian records 356
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Alexander Robb

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Layton, sailing from Sheerness in 1835. Native of Dundee, Angus. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Robb

    Died 1896 in Zeehan, Tasmania, aged 32. Will registered in Tasmania in 1896.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Robb

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Scindian, aged 56; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,321 records for Robb in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada316 records

316 records of the Robb name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 166
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 40
  • Other Canadian records 110
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Eliza Robb

    Came to Ontario in 1867 aboard the Caladonia, landing at N York, bound for Seaforth, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Charles Edwin Robb

    Died 1957, aged 80; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Minnie Robb

    Buried in 1981 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 95.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 316 records for Robb in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom160 records

160 records of the Robb name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 81
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 48
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 31
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Thomas Robb

    Born 1890 at Lossiemouth; cooper. Died 1918. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Highland Light Infantry).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Robb

    Born 1866 at Bogmuir; shoeing smith. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Robb

    Buried in 1902 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 54.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 160 records for Robb in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand75 records

75 records of the Robb name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 34
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 20
  • Other New Zealand records 21
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Kathleen Eleanor Robb

    Died 1987, aged 82; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Albert Henry Robb

    Died 1953, aged 69; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Nora Lily Robb

    Born 1924, died 1998; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 75 records for Robb in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands18 records

18 records of the Robb name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 8
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 4
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Robb

    Died 1827 in Vlissingen, aged 67; lodging-house keeper.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Willem Robb

    Died 1824 in Didam, aged 48; farmer.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Martha Robb

    Died 1837 in Rotterdam, aged 78.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Robb in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Ireland3 records

3 records of the Robb name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Robb

    Died 1921; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Albert Robb

    Died 1910; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Robb in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France3 records

3 records of the Robb name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Louise Robb

    Born 1891 in Le Creusot (Saône-et-Loire); died 1986 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Robb in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Robb name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Josef Robb

    From Suhrburg, Weißenburg. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 31 March 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 17).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Robb.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Robb is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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