ROBERT BARRON

One of the many French names of Germanic origin that were introduced into Britain by the Normans; it has since remained in continuous use. It is derived from the nearly synonymous elements hrōd ‘fame’ + berht ‘bright, famous’, and had a native Old English predecessor of similar form (Hreodbeorht), which was supplanted by the Norman name. Two dukes of Normandy in the 11th century bore the name: the father of William the Conqueror (sometimes identified with the legendary Robert the Devil), and his eldest son. It was borne also by three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce (1274–1329), who freed Scotland from English domination. The altered short form Bob is very common, but Hob and Dob, which were common in the Middle Ages and gave rise to surnames, are extinct. See also Rupert.

Scottish, northern English, and Irish: 1. status name from Middle English barron (see Baron). A baron in Scotland was a member of a class of minor landowners who had a certain degree of jurisdiction over the local populace living in his barony. 2. of Norman origin: from an Old French personal name Baro (oblique case Baron) (see Baron).