Robinson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Robinson is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the baptismal name Robin, which was a diminutive of the personal name Robert, and refers to “a son of Robin or Robert.”

Early Origins of the Robinson family

The surname Robinson was first found in Yorkshire, where a John Richard Robunson was on record in 1324 in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield, and a Thomas Robynson was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379. [1]

The Robinson family in Ireland is typically found in Ulster where they migrated to in the Plantation of Ireland.

Early History of the Robinson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robinson research.

Robinson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Robinson, Robenson, Robbison, Robbinson, McRobin and others.

Early Notables of the Robinson family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include John Robinson (1576-1625), known as the “Pilgrim Pastor,” who was the first pastor and inspiration to the church of the Pilgrim Fathers, Henry Crabb Robinson (1775-1867), a foreign correspondent for The Times.

Robinson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Robinson is the 20^th most popular surname with an estimated 579,471 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Robinson is ranked the 30^thmost popular surname with an estimated 47,171 people with that name. [3] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Robinson is the 539^th popular surname. [4] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Robinson as 689^th with 63 people. [5] Australia ranks Robinson as 29^th with 48,735 people. [6]New Zealand ranks Robinson as 17^th with 6,198 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Robinson as 13^rd with 137,489 people. [8] South Africa ranks Robinson as 711^st with 9,594 people. [9]

 Migration of the Robinson family to Ireland

Some of the Robinson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Robinson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Robinson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Robinson, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship “Discovery” in 1607, died soon after
• Mr. John Robinson, aged 21,who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship “Margaret & John” [10]
• Isaac and Bridget Robinson, who arrived in Plymouth in 1629
• Constance Robinson, who landed in New England in 1634 [11]
• Mr. Robert Robinson, aged 45, who arrived in New England aboard the ship “The Christian” in 1634 [10]

Robinson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• George Robinson, who landed in Virginia in 1706 [11]
• David Robinson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 [11]
• Anne Robinson, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [11]
• Catherine and Charles Robinson, who settled in Virginia in 1730
• James Robinson, who settled in Virginia in 1775

Robinson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Aistroppe Robinson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [11]
• Barber Robinson, aged 5, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [11]
• Hugh Robinson, who landed in America in 1809 [11]
• Isabella Robinson, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 [11]
• Gilbert Robinson, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1812 [11]

 Robinson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

• William Robinson, who arrived in Ferryland, Newfoundland in 1677 [12]

Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Charles Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Ben j Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
• Edward Robinson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
• Hannah Robinson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
• Elizabeth Robinson, aged 30, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775

Robinson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• William Robinson, who emigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland to St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1831 [12]
• George Robinson, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “John & Mary” from Belfast, Ireland
• Joseph Robinson, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “John & Mary” from Belfast, Ireland
• Bess Robinson, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “John & Mary” from Belfast, Ireland
• Sarah Robinson, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the schooner “Sarah” from Belfast, Ireland

 Robinson migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Robinson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. Michael Robinson, (Robinson, Massey), English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
• Mr. William Robinson, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]

Robinson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Helen Robinson, (Nelly), British Convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Miss Sarah Robinson, (b. 1783), aged 17, English house wife who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1872 [14]
• Mr. Thomas Robinson, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Miss Mary Robinson, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Miss Elizabeth Robinson, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Canada” in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]

 Robinson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Robinson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• John Robinson, aged 39, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgeway” in 1840
• Mary Robinson, aged 38, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgeway” in 1840
• Frederick Robinson, aged 20, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgeway” in 1840
• Amelia Robinson, aged 16, a sempstress, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgeway” in 1840
• Mr. Robinson, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship “Delhi” arriving in Bay of Islands, New Zealand on 16th August 1840 [17]

 Robinson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [18]

Robinson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. Edward Robinson, (b. 1616), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 [11]
• Mr. Thomas Robinson, (b. 1604), aged 31, British settler travelling from London, Englandaboard the ship “Anne and Elizabeth” arriving in Barbados in 1635 [19]
• Mr. David Robinson, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, Englandaboard the ship “Peter Bonaventure” arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [19]
• Mr. John Robinson, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship “Peter Bonaventure” arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [19]
• Mr. William Robinson, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler traveling aboard the ship “Matthew” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [20]

Contemporary Notables of the name Robinson (post 1700) +

• Ray Charles Robinson (1930-2004), birth name of Ray Charles, American musician, one of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”
• William “Smokey” Robinson (b. 1940), American musician, hailed as “the poet laureate of soul music,” inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music
• Frank Robinson (1935-2019), American Major League Baseball player, MVP, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Randall Robinson (1941-2023), American lawyer, author and activist, founder of TransAfrica
• C. Paul Robinson (1941-2023), American physicist, born in Detroit, Michigan who spent most of his career at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, recipient of the George E. Pake Prize (2003)
• Franklin Davis Robinson (1930-2022), American aeronautical engineer and founder of Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, California which developed the R44, one of the most successful civil helicopters in history
• Bill Robinson (1925-2022), American automobile designer, known for his work with Chrysler, creative designer from 1948 to 1980 and Briggs Manufacturing Company, notably designer of the 1957 Plymouth Fury which was awarded the 1957 Motor Trend Car of The Year Award
• Robert Jackson “Jackie” Robinson (1927-2022), nicknamed “Jack” or “Jackie”, an American Baptist pastor, theologian and college basketball player who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
• Gregory McIntosh “Greg” Robinson (1951-2022), American football head football coach at Syracuse University from 2005 to 2008, assistant coach with the New York Jets from 1990 to 1994, the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2000, and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001 to 2003
• William Edward “Eddie” Robinson (1920-2021), American Major League Baseball first baseman, scout, coach, and front office executive of the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s who, author of an autobiography, Lucky Me: My Sixty-five Years in Baseball