Roberts
A classic patronymic surname meaning “son of Robert.”
The #50 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 819 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Roberts is a patronymic surname built from the given name Robert plus the English possessive/genitive -s, so it originally meant “Robert’s son” or “descendant of Robert.” Robert itself comes through Norman French from a Germanic personal name usually understood as “bright fame,” from roots meaning “fame” and “bright, famous.” In medieval records the name appears in forms like Robert’s and Roberti, showing the same family-name pattern seen in many English surnames.
History
The name became widespread in England and later in Scotland and other English-speaking regions because Robert was a very common medieval forename. Historical surname lists and genealogical records show Roberts established early and numerous, with many local branches developing independently. In modern Britain and North America it remains one of the most familiar patronymic surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A few older genealogical traditions tried to explain some Roberts families as descended from a specific immigrant ancestor, but the surname itself is much older and usually arose independently wherever a man named Robert had descendants.
From the historical record
“under Robert, and + M.E. tun, O.E. tAii] ROBERTS, ROBERT'S (Son) \ ROBERTSON, Robert's Son J ^' «"°eri. Adam fil. Roberti. — Hund. Rolls. ROBERTSHAW (Eng.) Dweller at Robert's Wood [v. under Robert, and + M.E. shati)(e, O.E. sc{e)aga, a wood] ROBESON = Robson, q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)