Robinson
A classic patronymic surname meaning “son of Robin,” with Robin itself originally a pet form of Robert.
The #30 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 583 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Robinson is a patronymic surname formed from Robin, a medieval diminutive of Robert, plus the son-suffix -son. In other words, it originally meant “Robin’s son” or “son of Robin.” Robin itself comes from Robert, a Germanic name meaning roughly “bright fame,” though the surname’s immediate source is the pet form rather than the full given name.
History
The surname became widespread in England and later in Scotland, Ireland, and the wider English-speaking world. It is common enough that it has long been listed among the major English surnames, and it later spread heavily through migration to North America and other regions. The name also appears in the famous phrase “before you could say Jack Robinson,” which has been in use for a long time as a way of saying “very quickly.”
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname gave English a well-known expression: “before you could say Jack Robinson,” meaning something happened very quickly.
From the historical record
“ROBINS, Robin's (Son) 1„ p-uj- ROBINSON, Robin's SonJ ^' "°"'"- ROBISHAW for Robertshaw, q.v. ROBISON, Rob(b)ie's Son: v. Robbie. ROBKIN = Rob (q.v.) + the E. (double) dim. suff. -kin [O.L.Ger. -Mb] Robekin is the usual i3th-cent. form. ROBLET "I = Rob (q.v.) -|- the Fr. double ROBLOT J dim. suff. -el-et, -el-ot.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)