From http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/3869/Robins.html

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From 1066 a.d. up until 1700 a.d., the name was spelled variouslly as;
R0-Bynes, Ro-byns, Ro-Bins, Robins and Robbins. About 1700 a.d.  the spelling
was changed to; ROBBINS or ROBINS with a very few references to Ro-Bynes.

To clearly understand the pre-history of the Normandy Invasion of William I,
the Conqueror in 1066 a.d., one must turn back a few pages of history to
the early Viking invasions of Northern Europe.  From 4,000 b.c. to 1,000
a.d. political boundaries shifted continually in this region, as various
groups gained and lost political and military dominance of the area. The
largest and most aggressive of these ethnic groups, were the Viking. This
group known as Viking or Norsemen were in fact made up of several groups of
individuals known as Vikings; [Norse] Norwegien [Norway] Vikings, Finnish
[Finland] Vikings and Danish [Denmark] Vikings.

Up until early 700 a.d. most of the Viking expeditions were for booty,
slaves, and plunder, against the eleven tribes of the Pictish Nation of
Northern Britannia. Between 733 a.d. and 795 a.d. they established three
strong footholds in Britannia. Challenging the Pictish Nation to the North
and the Roman Empire to the South.  Learning of the wealth of the monestaries
all over Britannia. They sought to loot these for their wealth. This was
a fore-runner to the major invasion of Northern Europe. Where they did
battle with the Gauls [Celts] for territorial footholds in the northern
regions of Europe. In their sea going long ships, these seafaring Viking,
were able to defuse their area of influence to as far away as North America.

There were two distinctive and seperate invasions; one into Northern Europe
and one into Scandinavia.

We will examine the invasion of Northern Europe and its impact on the Frank
occupation of the western part of central Europe. That area that is known
today as France. The invasion was met with some limited success. Enough
so as to establish a strong foothold in the northern or Brittany region
of France. The result of this invasion was to create a hybred culture;
the Franco-Viking breed or what was to become known as the "Norman". These
Norman, developed, with a strong militaristic influence of their Viking
heritage but tempered with the sophistication of their Franco cultural
heritage, into the most disiplined military organization in Europe.

With this formadable war machine at his side; in 1066 a.d. William the
I, the Conqueror invaded Britannia in an effort to over throw the Roman
Empires long hold of the Islands to the North. Riding with and in support
of William I, the Conqueror on his invasion was a Norman Gentleman Knight
of the French Court by the name of Ro-Bynes.

With the success of the "Norman Invasion" Ro-Bynes was granted a large
parcel of land along the Border Ridings and specifically in the vicinity
of what is now Peebleshire.

Thus, began the long tradition of the ROBINS/ROBBINS dynasty, in establishing
their ethnic and cultural heritage as [Franco-Viking] Norman influence in
Scotland. From 1066 a.d. until immigration to North America in the late
1600 to early 1700's, the Robins/Robbins family let themselves be known
in the area through marriage and alliance. By the time they immigrated to
North America they were Scotish through and through. Whether allied with
the MacGregor Clan or not. They have a long and illustrious history in the
region, one to be very proud of. Therefore wear our tartan with honor and
"Hail to the Robins/Robbins Clan."

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