The Robertson surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 153,666 people carried this name — #175 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 1,920 people counted. That is up 2% from 150,299 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Robertson surname
An English surname originating as a patronymic.
From Robert + -son.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Robertson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 18 births for the Robertson name in 1890.
They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
164 people named Robertson live in Switzerland.
They live in 12 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 126 people named Robertson live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 93 people named Robertson.
Most of them — 57 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 10 départements, most often Martinique.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Poland’s population register
39 people named Robertson have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 140 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 11 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lesser Poland.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.
In Belgium’s population register
At least 25 people named Robertson live in Belgium.
Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Hainaut.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
In the Nordic population registers
391 people named Robertson are counted in Sweden and Finland.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
In print
Robertson in American newspapers,
1886–1928.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 932,073 pages in all carry the name.
Who carried it
People named Robertson,
with a public archive behind them.
-
Christina Robertson 1796–1854 · painter -
David Robertson, 1st Baron Marjoribanks 1797–1873 · politician -
John Robertson 1799–1876 · businessperson -
Henry Robertson 1816–1888 · engineer -
John Robertson 1816–1891 · politician
Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · 206 lives in all are documented under this name.
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Robertson.
- Roberge 3,714 · U.S. census
- Robert 12,181 · U.S. census
- Roberti 798 · U.S. census
- Roberto 3,770 · U.S. census
- Roberton 260 · U.S. census
- Roberts 376,774 · U.S. census
- Robida 348 · U.S. census
- Robidas 161 · U.S. census
- Robidou 130 · U.S. census
- Robillard 3,499 · U.S. census
- Robin 5,212 · U.S. census
- Robine 201 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Robertson 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.