Robbins
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Robin,” with Robin being a medieval pet form of Robert.
The #410 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,939 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Robbins is an English surname built from Robin, a medieval diminutive of Robert, plus the -s ending that often marked “son of” in surnames. So the name originally meant “Robin’s son” or “descendant of Robin.” Robin itself goes back to Robert, ultimately from Germanic elements meaning “bright fame.”
History
The surname is well established in England and later spread widely through Britain and the English-speaking world. Older surname books treat Robbins alongside Robins, Robinson, Robson, and other Robert-derived names. The form is especially common in areas where medieval pet forms and patronymic -s surnames became hereditary family names.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Robin was once such a common nickname for Robert that it also helped give rise to the folklore figure Robin Hood.
From the historical record
“ROBBIE J dim. suff. -^y, rie\ ROBBINS = Robins, q.v. ROBBS, Robb's (Son) : v. Robb. ROBEARTS = Roberts, q.v. ROBERSON for Robertson, q.v. ROBERT (Teut.) i FAME-BRiGHT[Fr. Robert, O. , TevLt.Hruodber(a)ht,Ruodperht, etc.(Mod.H. GeT.Rupreckt,etc.),HrdVberht,Hr^biart,etc. — O.H.Ger. h)ruod- = O.Sax. *hri}S- = O.E.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)