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Robinson Family History

Robinson Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): patronymic from the Middle English personal name Robin a pet form of Robert + -son. This surname is also very common among African Americans. French: from a pet form of the personal name Robin . West Indian (including Haiti) and Guyanese: most likely not (only) of English or French origin as in 1 above and 2 above but also if not mostly from the related name of the famous Daniel Defoe's literary character Robinson Crusoe (from a novel first published in 1719).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Robison, Rubinson, Robson, Robins, Rolison, Robertson, Adkinson

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Robinson family from?

You can see how Robinson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Robinson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Robinson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 942 Robinson families living in New York. This was about 17% of all the recorded Robinson's in USA. New York had the highest population of Robinson families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Robinson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Robinson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Robinson. 18% of Robinson men worked as a Laborer and 11% of Robinson women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Robinson were Truck Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Robinson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    18%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    11%
  • Cook
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Robinson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3 million census records available for the last name Robinson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Robinson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Robinson

Passenger Lists

There are 401,000 immigration records available for the last name Robinson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 518,000 military records available for the last name Robinson. For the veterans among your Robinson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Robinson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Robinson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Robinson in 1940 was 35, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Robinson

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