Robertson is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the given name Robert and the suffix "-son," which means "son of." The given name Robert comes from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning fame or glory, and "berht" meaning bright or famous. Thus, Robertson means "bright fame son."
The surname Robertson is believed to have been first recorded in Scotland during the 13th century. It was brought to Ireland by Scottish settlers who arrived there around the 17th century.
In medieval Scotland, it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their father's given name or occupation. Therefore, Robertson would have originally referred to a son of Robert.
Over time, Robertson has become widely popular and can now be found in many English-speaking countries around the world. It is still most commonly associated with Scottish heritage but has also become prevalent among people without direct Scottish ancestry due to its appeal as a strong-sounding name.
Based on the statistics provided, Roberson appears to be a relatively uncommon name in the United States. Over the span of five years from 1991 to 1996, there were only a total of 13 babies named Roberson born each year combined. In fact, during these five years, the number of births per year ranged between a low of 5 in 1996 to a peak of 8 births in 1991. This suggests that the name Roberson may be less popular compared to other names and has seen a slight decrease in usage over time. Nevertheless, it is important to note that having a unique name like Roberson can have its advantages, as it makes individuals stand out and have a distinctive identity.