Explore the Family Name Robertson
The meaning of Robertson
1. 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). 2. Americanized form (and a rare Swedish variant) of Swedish Robertsson: patronymic from the personal name Robert. 3. Americanized form of Norwegian and Danish Robertsen, a cognate of 1 above. History: Clan Donnachie in Scotland is also known as Clan Robertson, after its 15th-century chief, Robert Riabhach (‘Grizzled Robert’) Mac Dhònnchaidh.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Robertson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Robertson" has slightly decreased over a decade. In 2000, Robertson was ranked as the 159th most common surname, but by 2010 it had slipped to the 175th spot, reflecting a decline of about 10.06%. However, the absolute count of individuals with this surname increased from 150,299 in 2000 to 153,666 in 2010, indicating a growth of approximately 2.24%. The proportion per 100,000 people also dipped by about 6.51%, going down from 55.72 in 2000 to 52.09 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #159 | #175 | -10.06% |
| Count | 150,299 | 153,666 | 2.24% |
| Proportion per 100k | 55.72 | 52.09 | -6.51% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Robertson
When it comes to ethnic identity, the data gathered from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White with the Robertson surname decreased slightly from 75.35% in 2000 to 73.42% in 2010. On the other hand, the percentages for some minority groups saw increases. Individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity went from 0.41% to 0.52%, a growth of 26.83%. Those identifying as two or more races saw an increase from 1.55% to 2.11%, a rise of 36.13%. People identifying as Hispanic went from 1.58% to 2.46%, a significant leap of 55.70%. There was a marginal increase in those who identified as Black — from 20.24% in 2000 to 20.61% in 2010. Lastly, American Indian and Alaskan Natives with the surname Robertson experienced a slight increase from 0.87% to 0.89%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 75.35% | 73.42% | -2.56% |
| Black | 20.24% | 20.61% | 1.83% |
| Hispanic | 1.58% | 2.46% | 55.7% |
| Two or More Races | 1.55% | 2.11% | 36.13% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.87% | 0.89% | 2.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.41% | 0.52% | 26.83% |
Robertson 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 Robertson is British & Irish, which comprises 57.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.3%) and Scandinavian (3.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 57.1% |
| French & German | 20.3% |
| Scandinavian | 3.8% |
| Other | 18.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Robertson
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 Robertson have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.40% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 85.30% |
What Robertson 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 Robertson is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-S660, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Smith, Wilson, Brown, Clark, Taylor, Patterson, Martin, Thompson, Robinson, White.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Robertson surname are: T2b, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your 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 Robertson 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.
"Robertson" Surname 42.8%
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.
"Robertson" Surname 26.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Robertson" Surname 21.5%
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.
"Robertson" Surname 17.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Robertson?
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 Robertson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition