English
The name 'Robertson' is of English and French origin. It is derived from the personal name 'Robert' which was found occasionaly in England before the Conquest, but in the main it was introduced to England by the Normans and quickly became popular among all classes of society. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive's has confirmed that the surname 'Robertson' and, or it's variant's, dates as far back as the 13th century were a 'Adam fil Roberti', from the County of Oxfordshire, England, is recorded on the Hundred Rolls in 1273. A scottish family by the name of 'Robertson' trace their descent from 'Crinan', Lord of Atholl. A family tradition has it that they acquired the family name 'Robertson' as aresult of their crucial support of 'Robert' the 'Bruce' at Bannockburn in 1306, after which he is reputed to have said that thereafter they should be ragarded as his children. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definately determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain 'Alexander Robertson', believed to have been descended from the 'Robertsons' of Struan, emigrated from Northern Ireland to Charleston, South Carolina in 1765. 'William Abbott Robertson', of Santa Barbara, California, was a Major in the late United States Army and served in the Great War 1917-19 with the Air Service A.E.F. , in co-operation with the Royal Air Force, and has order of the Purple Heart, and Legion of Honour (France). Today, 'Robertson' is the '174th' most common surname in North America.