Robb
Robb is a surname of Scottish origin, formed from a diminution (reduction) of the name Robert. Robert was a popular name, especially after its use by three Scots Kings in the fourteenth century. Rob started to be used as a surname in the decades before 1500 with early groupings in Aberdeenshire, Lanarkshire and Perthshire/Stirlingshire. The surname originated as Rob, sometimes Robe, but the vast majority of families had added an extra 'b' by 1800, an exception being a wealthy farming family that settled in Thirsk, Yorkshire. Although the surname originates in Scotland, Protestant branches of the family settled in Ireland during the sixteenth century Plantations, amongst them the Robb of Timpany family. Although largely a Protestant name Father John Rob was appointed Rector to the Scots College in Douai in 1632, and Father Thomas Rob to the same post in 1671. Along with Robb of Timpany the other armorial Robb family used the surname Robe, descending from Reverend James Robe of Kilsyth (1688–1753), son of Reverend Michael Rob of Cumbernauld (1645–1721). From Ireland many Robbs emigrated to the New World, where the surname sometimes became Raab, although many Robbs in the New World are Raubs of German origin. The name is often recorded as a sept of the Clan MacFarlane who were based historically on the eastern side of Loch Lomond, but this only stems from an early inclusion of MacRobb as a MacFarlane sept, and no solid link between the, largely, lowland surname and highland clan has yet been found.
People surnamed Robb
- Alfred Robb (1873–1935), English physicist
- Andrew Robb (b. 1951), Australian politician
- AnnaSophia Robb (b. 1993), American actress
- Bruce Robb (b. 1954), American record producer
- Candace Robb (b. 1959), British author
- Chuck Robb (b. 1939), American politician
- Curtis Robb (b. 1972), British middle distance athlete
- David Robb (b. 1947), British actor
- Douglas Robb (b. 1975), American musician
- Ed Robb (b. 1942), American politician
- George Douglas Robb (1899–1974), New Zealand surgeon
- Graham Robb (b. 1958), British author
- Ian Robb, English folk singer
- Isabel Hampton Robb (1860–1910), American nursing theorist
- J. Hampden Robb (1846–1911), New York politician
- James Robb (disambiguation), several people
- John Robb (disambiguation), several people
- Lynda Bird Johnson Robb (b. 1944), elder daughter of American president Lyndon Baines Johnson
- Muriel Robb (1878–1907), British tennis player
- Natalie J. Robb (b. 1974), Scottish actress
- Paul Robb, musician
- Peter Robb (b. 1946), Australian author
- R. C. Robb, British athlete
- Rafael Robb (b. 1950), American economist
- Ralph Robb (1800–1850), Scottish clergyman
- Richard Robb, American politician
- Steven Robb (b. 1982), Scottish footballer
- Thomas Robb (b. 1946), Ku Klux Klan director
See also
- Rob (disambiguation)