Aubin
A French surname from places called Saint-Aubin, originally tied to the personal name Albinus, meaning “white” or “pale.”
The #9,473 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 89,935 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Aubin is usually explained as a surname taken from one of the many French places called Saint-Aubin. Those place-names honor Saint Albinus, from Latin Albinus, based on albus, meaning “white” or “pale.” In older English surname books, Aubin is also treated as a variant of Albin or Alban, reflecting overlapping medieval spellings and sound changes.
History
The name appears in medieval records in England in forms such as Aubin and Aabyn, suggesting it was brought in through French influence after the Norman period. It is especially associated with Normandy and other French localities named Saint-Aubin. Later English surname writers also grouped St. Aubyn with the same family of names.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
There are many French villages called Saint-Aubin, which is one reason the surname has several local origins rather than just one.
From the historical record
“Fosbrooke, /fwt. G/OMC, ii- 328. ST. AUBIN V(Fr.-Lat. ) Bel. to St. Aubin ST. AUBYN J (France). Aubin for Albin = White, Pale [Lat. Albin-us—alb-us, white]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)