Robison

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A family name of English and Scottish origin, borne by various people across history and in many countries
2. A surname traditionally derived from the given name Robert, carried by individuals in English-speaking regions
3. An inherited family name of Anglo-Scottish origin, meaning the son of Robert in its original patronymic sense

Etymology: "Robison" is a surname formed in the usual English way: "Robin" plus "-son," meaning "son of Robin." Robin itself is a pet form of Robert, a name that spread across medieval Europe and was common in England, so the surname sits in the same family of patronymics as Robertson, Robson and Robinson. The spelling "Robison" is an older or regional variant of the more familiar "Robinson," with the "-son" ending doing the same job. Surnames of this type were fixed at different times by different families and clerks, so several spellings of the same name often exist side by side.