The amount of people with that surname is quite a surprise as it's not a 'run-of-the-mill' surname & certainly doesn't shout 'English' or 'British' for that matter i.e. it would be interesting to find it's true origin arriving in England if that's the case?
Annie
A scout around various websites on name origins:
One says it was first recorded in Lancashire. This website mentions Paisley, England
further down the page. As far as I'm aware there is no place called Paisley in England. If it exists it must be so tiny that hardly anyone knows about it.
Another cites earliest records in Cambridgeshire and London + other places.
A third claims the surname is from a little place in Derbyshire.
A variation is Orbine.
Another derivation theory is a Norse word, without H, meaning scarred leg.
Census statistics show Lancashire was the county where most Horrobins lived. Over 50% one year.
The vast majority live in England. (Well if they wouldn't cross a little river to a village less than 5 miles away they were unlikely to be enthusiastic about a sea-crossing.
)
No wonder it's an unfamiliar name to a Scottish-based person. I can't recall ever having met one in real life. However I may have walked past their graves.