Explore the Family Name Robb
The meaning of Robb
English, Scottish, and northern Irish: from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Robb(e), a pet form of Robert. See also Robbie.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Robb in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Robb" saw a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked the 2460th most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped to 2686th place, marking a change of -9.19%. The actual count of individuals with this surname also slightly decreased during this period, going from 13,455 to 13,402, indicating a decline of -0.39%. The proportion of people with the Robb surname per 100k individuals similarly declined by -9.02% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,460 | #2,686 | -9.19% |
| Count | 13,455 | 13,402 | -0.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.99 | 4.54 | -9.02% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Robb
The ethnic identity associated with the "Robb" surname has seen some interesting shifts according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the majority of individuals with the Robb surname were identified as White (91.22%). By 2010, although still predominately carried by those of White ethnicity, it had decreased to 89.46%, reflecting a change of -1.93%. The representation of the surname within other ethnic groups saw an increase. Notably, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 0.39% in 2000 to 0.70% in 2010, a substantial relative increase of 79.49%. Similarly, the Hispanic representation increased by 55.03%, and those identifying with two or more races increased by 33.33%. The Black community saw a modest increase of 4.38%, while representation among American Indian and Alaskan Natives decreased slightly by -5.13%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.22% | 89.46% | -1.93% |
| Black | 5.25% | 5.48% | 4.38% |
| Hispanic | 1.49% | 2.31% | 55.03% |
| Two or More Races | 1.26% | 1.68% | 33.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.39% | 0.7% | 79.49% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.39% | 0.37% | -5.13% |
Robb ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Robb is British & Irish, which comprises 52.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (23.4%) and Eastern European (5.3%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Nigerian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 52.1% |
| French & German | 23.4% |
| Eastern European | 5.3% |
| Other | 19.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Robb
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Robb have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 88.10% |
What Robb haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Robb is I-CTS6433, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-CTS6433 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Wales, Collier, Roche, Bruce, Bennett, Cross, Whitfield, Simons, Davis, Andrews.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Robb surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Robb have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Robb" Surname 37.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Robb" Surname 27.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Robb" Surname 17.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Robb" Surname 19.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Robb?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Robb are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition