#22 Our Emerald Isle: Robin's Run - Surname The Robin's surname was first used in the borderlands between Scotland and England by an ancient Scottish group of people. It was a name for someone who lived in Peeblesshire, a former county in south-central Scotland. The surname was also a patronymic name created from the personal name Robin, which is a pet form of Robert. Through the years Robins has been spelled Robbins, Robbyns, Robens, Robins, Robin, and others.