Robison
A variant of Robinson, meaning “son of Robin” or “son of Robert.”
The #1,392 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,131 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Robison is a patronymic surname built from the pet form Robin or Robbie, ultimately from Robert. In medieval English usage, the ending -son meant “son of,” so the name literally means “son of Robin/Robert.” Some surname scholars also note that forms like Robison can arise when the n of Robinson is dropped in speech or spelling.
History
The name appears in medieval records in forms such as Robyson and Robson, showing that several related spellings developed side by side. Later writers treated Robison mainly as a spelling variant of Robinson rather than a wholly separate surname. It is now less common than Robinson or Robson, but it survives in Britain, North America, and other English-speaking regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some surname guides explain Robison as Robinson with the -n dropped, a sound change that also produced names like Pattison beside Patterson.
From the historical record
“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. Robelet and Robelot are not common now in France.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)