From a border History site

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/north_east_england_history_page/Borderfa.htm try your name?

ROBSON The name Robson is closely associated with Northumberland and Durham and was the name of a Northumbrian Grayne (or family tribe) which inhabited the valley of North Tynedale in the Elizabethan days of the Border Reivers. The reivers were violent sheep rustling families whose allegiance was first and foremost to their family name even if other members of the family group belonged to the opposite side of the Scottish border. The name Robson means son of Rob or Robert and one suggestion is that their patriarch was Hroethbert, an Anglo-Saxon mentioned on a runic cross found at Falstone in North Tynedale. Border families preyed on their traditional enemies and in the case of the Robsons the great enemy was the Graham family who inhabited Liddesdale on the Scottish side of the border. One day a group of North Tynedale Robsons made a foray into Liddesdale and stole a large flock of Graham sheep which they brought back into Tynedale. When it was found that the Graham sheep were infected with scab, which spread like wild fire through the existing Robson flock the Robsons were furious and made a second raid into Liddesdale. Here they caught seven members of the Graham family and executed them all, by hanging them from the neck. As a 'calling card' The Robsons left a sinister note stating that 'The next time gentlemen cam' to tak' their sheep they are no' te' be scabbit!'. In later centuries when the border troubles came to an end many Robsons left Northumberland to become coal miners in County Durham and Tyneside. Later some turned their attentions to quiet leisurely activities like managing football clubs or national sides.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2000

Answers

O.K. so maybe we'll beat Tottenham out for 6th place on the ladder.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2000

All a bunch of scabby's alright!

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2000

Robsons v Grahams

Curiously enough, my ancestors were Grahams, and I've done some research on their history as Border mercenaries on the Carlisle side of the N. Pennines. They were ultimately rounded up and deported to Ireland - and that's when the real trouble started!!

Given the job Wor Burb is deein for the Toon, I suppose I better try to convince the family warlords to declare a truce against them damn murdering, sheep-sh@**ing Robsons.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2000