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There are approximately 206,093 people named Roberts in the UK. That makes it the 12nd most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 3,262 are named Roberts.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Wales

Language of origin

Welsh

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
From name of parent

Related and similar surnames

Robert
Robertson
Robertshaw
Robberts
Robertus
Robertos
Robbert
Roberte
Robarts
Roberti
Roberta
Robart
Roberto
Roberds
Robers
Roberton
Roberrtson
Robards
Rober
Robirds
Robbers
Robertazzi
Robets
Robertello
Robaerts
Roaberts
Robarets
Rhoberts
Robaert
Robard
Robartes
Rhobert
Robartse
Robarte
Robaart
Roabart
Reoberts
Rioberts
Raoberts
Rberts
Rhoberta
Robarta
Roabertson
Robarti

The Roberts surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: Sax.) From Rod, counsel, and bert or bericht, bright or famous--famous in counsel.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

ROBERTS. ROBARTS. See Robert. The family of Roberts of Glassenbury, CO. Kent, extinct baronets, according to a genealogy in Harl. MSS., are descended from a William Rookherst, a Scotchman, who settled in Kent, in the third year of Henry I., and purchased lands at Goudhurst, which he called after his own name. This name he afterwards changed to Roobertes, which finally became Roberts. The tradition of descent from a Scotchman may be true or not, but that a North Briton gave name to a place in Kent called Rookherst, is a pure figment. The termination herst, or Jiurst, is scarcely, if at all, known in Scotland, while the Weald of Kent, where the Robertses first appear, abounds with it. The truth, doubtless, is, that the locality called from Saxon times Rooklierst, gave the name De Rookherst to its early possessors, and that one of them in later times — the son of a Robert — dropped his local surname, and assumed a patronymical one.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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