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Home › Baby Names Directory › Robertson

Robertson

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROB-ert-suhn /ˈrɒb.ərt.sən/Medium

Meaning: Robertson is a patronymic surname meaning simply 'son of Robert', Robert coming from Germanic hrod and beraht, 'fame' and 'bright'. As a given name it passes that whole lineage on, often honoring a family surname.Medium

In 30 seconds: Robertson is a surname meaning 'son of Robert', from Germanic roots for 'bright fame'. Used sparingly as a boy's given name, said ROB-ert-suhn.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish
MeaningRobertson is a patronymic surname meaning simply 'son of Robert', Robert coming from Germanic hrod and beraht, 'fame' and 'bright'. As a given name it passes that whole lineage on, often honoring a family surname.
U.S. rank (2022)#13913 ↘ Falling
2022 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 516

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196419162022

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Robertson is a patronymic surname, 'son of Robert', and Robert itself joins the Old Germanic elements hrod, 'fame', and beraht, 'bright'. Given to boys it works as a surname-first name, frequently a way to keep a family or clan name alive across generations.

It was never common as a first name, given to only about twenty boys a year around its 1964 peak, and it stayed a minority choice. A boy named Robertson then is now around retirement age, and the name still reads as a formal family surname more than a fashion.

Did you know? Clan Robertson is one of Scotland's historic Highland clans, and the surname carried real prestige, which helps explain why some families set it as a first name for sons.
Overall data confidence 48%
References - Robertson — Patronymic surname 'son of Robert'; Robert from hrod + beraht

Variations

RobinsonRobersonRobbie

Nicknames

RobRobbieBert

Famous Bearers

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If you like Robertson…

Robert— the root name behind the patronymic
Robinson— a like 'son of' surname name
Anderson— another surname used as a first name
Emerson— a similar -son surname-name

Explore names like Robertson

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Robertson mean?

It means 'son of Robert', and Robert comes from Germanic words for 'fame' and 'bright'.

How do you pronounce Robertson?

It is said ROB-ert-suhn /ˈrɒb.ərt.sən/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Robertson a boy or girl name?

Robertson has been used as a boy's name.

Is Robertson a popular name?

No, as a first name it was always rare, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the nineteen-sixties.

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