Robert E

The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honour, praise, renown" and '' berht'' "bright, light, shining"). It is the second most frequently used given name of ancient Germanic origin. It is also in use as a surname. Another commonly used form of the name is Rupert.

After becoming widely used in Continental Europe it entered England in its Old French form ''Robert'', where an Old English cognate form (''Hrēodbēorht'', ''Hrodberht'', ''Hrēodbēorð'', ''Hrœdbœrð'', ''Hrœdberð'', ''Hrōðberχtŕ'') had existed before the Norman Conquest. The feminine version is Roberta. The Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish form is Roberto.

Robert is also a common name in many Germanic languages, including English, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Scots, Danish, and Icelandic. It can be used as a French, Polish, Irish, Finnish, Romanian, and Estonian name as well.

Variations

Popularity and trivia

The name ''Robert'' was a royal name in France, Germany, Scotland and England during the medieval period, and was the name of several kings, dukes, and other rulers and noblemen. It was one of the most popular male names in medieval Europe, likely due to its frequent usage amongst royalty and nobility. To this day, ''Robert'' remains one of the most frequently given male names.

''Robert'' was in the top 10 most given boys' names in the United States for 47 years, from 1925 to 1972. While some names become less frequently used due to negative associations, ''Robert'' is still widely used despite its connection to many negatively evaluated historical figures.

In Italy during the Second World War, the form of the name, Roberto, briefly acquired a new meaning derived from, and referring to the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.

The name's second component, ''*berhta-'', is the original root for the modern English word "bright".

People named Robert

Royalty

;Kings of Scotland
* Robert I of Scotland (1274–1329) ("Robert the Bruce"), king and national hero of Scotland, legendary for his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn, one of the most prominent and skilled warriors of his time who freed Scotland from the English rule during the Wars of Scottish Independence
* Robert II of Scotland (Robert Stewart) (1316–1390), one of the principal commanders at the Battle of Halidon Hill
* Robert III of Scotland (c. 1337/40–1406)

;Kings of France
* Robert I of France (c.866–923)
* Robert II of France (972–1031)

;King of Naples
* Robert of Naples (1276–1343)

;King of Germany
* Robert of Germany (Rupertus, Rex Romanorum) (1352–1410)

;King of Hungary and Croatia
* Charles I Robert (1288–1342)

;King of Bulgaria
* Robert of Bulgaria, Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria (1894–1943), one of the principal commanders of European theatre of World War II

;Dukes of Normandy
* Robert I, Duke of Normandy (1000–1035), also known as Robert the Magnificent or Robert the Devil; father of William the Conqueror
* Robert Curthose (c.1051–1134, son of William the Conqueror, claimant to throne of Kingdom of England.

;Duke of Chartres
* Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres, Crown Prince of France (1840–1910)

;Duke of Parma
* Robert I, Duke of Parma (1848–1907)

;Count of Flanders
* Robert I, Count of Flanders (c.1035–1093)
* Robert II, Count of Flanders (c.1065–1111).

;Crown Prince of Bavaria
* Robert I, crown prince of Bavaria (1869–1955), also known as Prince Rupprecht, last heir apparent to the Bavarian throne.

;Latin Emperor and Emperor of Constantinople
* Robert I, Latin Emperor (d. 1228), Emperor of the Latin Empire and Constantinopole

;Duke of Sicily and Prince of Benevento
* Robert Guiscard (c. 1015–1085), Norman nobleman, adventurer and explorer, leader of the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily

Medieval figures

* Robert III of Artois (1287–1342), Lord of Conches-en-Ouche, of Domfront, and of Mehun-sur-Yèvre, Earl of Richmond.
* Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury, Anglo-Norman nobleman, and one of the most prominent figures in the competition for the succession to England and Normandy, member of the House of Bellême
* Robert de Craon (died 1147), the second Grand Master of the Knights Templar from June 1136 until his death.
* Robert de Juilly (died 1377), Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1374 to his death
* Robert IV of Sablé (1150–1193), eleventh Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1191 to 1192 and Lord of Cyprus from 1191 to 1192.

Folk heroes

* Robert Huntington, known as Robin Hood, legendary heroic outlaw and nobleman originally depicted in English folklore, highly skilled archer and swordsman, sometimes regarded as a national hero of England
* Robert Roy Macgregor (1671–1734), Scottish outlaw and national hero

Nobility

* Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley
* Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey
* Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
* Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth
* Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
* Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, British lawyer, politician and diplomat, one of the architects of the League of Nations;
* Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
* Sir Robert Dashwood, 1st Baronet, English politician
* Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, English nobleman and military commander
* Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, British statesman and military commander, governor-general of British Empire
* Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex