Robert Family History

French Walloon English German Dutch Flemish and Breton (of French origin); Hungarian (Róbert): from the ancient Germanic personal name Ro(d)bert (Middle English Robert Old French Ro(d)bert) composed of the elements hrōd ‘fame renown’ + berht ‘bright famous’. This is found occasionally in Anglo-Saxon England before the Conquest but in the main it was introduced into England by the Normans and quickly became popular among all classes of society.

Pet forms and diminutives are found from an early date Robin being particularly common. Compare Robair Robar Robare and Rober. In some cases also an Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.