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Robertson Family History

Robertson Surname Meaning

Scottish and English: patronymic from the Middle English Norman French and Older Scots personal name Robert + -son. This surname is especially common in Scotland where Robert was a popular personal name and the name of three kings of Scotland including Robert the Bruce (1274–1329). Americanized form (and a rare Swedish variant) of Swedish Robertsson: patronymic from the personal name Robert . Americanized form of Norwegian and Danish Robertsen a cognate of 1 above.

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


Similar surnames: Roberts, Rogerson, Robberson, Robson, Roberson, Robeson, Albertson

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 Robertson family from?

You can see how Robertson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Robertson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Robertson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 229 Robertson families living in New York. This was about 12% of all the recorded Robertson's in USA. New York had the highest population of Robertson families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Robertson 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 Robertson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Robertson. 17% of Robertson men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Robertson women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Robertson were Truck Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Robertson | 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
    17%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Cook
    6%
  • Housewife
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Robertson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Robertson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Robertson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Robertson

Passenger Lists

There are 256,000 immigration records available for the last name Robertson. 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.

View all Robertson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 217,000 military records available for the last name Robertson. For the veterans among your Robertson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Robertson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Robertson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Robertson in 1940 was 49, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Robertson

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