UK surname
An English locational surname referring to someone from a location called Nesbitt or Nesbeth.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Nesbett surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St John Lee, Isleworth and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nesbett is 157 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.8%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
157 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nesbett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nesbett surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St John Lee, Isleworth, Govan Combination, Gateshead and Stannington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St John Lee | Northumberland |
| 2 | Isleworth | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | Stannington | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nesbett surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nesbett, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Nesbett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nesbett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Nesbett is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nesbett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nesbett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Nesbett has its origins in the northern English counties of Northumberland and Durham. It is an ancient name that dates back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English phrase 'nether bitt', which means 'lower or lesser estate'. This suggests that the original bearer of the name lived on a smaller or less important piece of land.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1195, where it appears as 'Nesebyt'. Other early spellings include 'Nesbit' and 'Nesbitt'. The name is also found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Durham in 1273, which lists a William Nesbyt.
In the 14th century, the Nesbett family held lands in Northumberland and were influential in the region. The name is mentioned in the Bain's Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, which references a Thomas de Nesbyt in 1347.
One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir Thomas Nesbitt (c. 1430 - 1491), a Scottish knight and landowner in Berwickshire. He was a supporter of King James III of Scotland and fought in the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488.
Another early bearer of the name was Sir John Nesbit (c. 1540 - 1615), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Berwickshire in the early 17th century.
In the 17th century, the Nesbitt family held lands in County Armagh, Ireland. One notable member was Sir Thomas Nesbitt (1654 - 1711), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Armagh.
Robert Nesbitt (1668 - 1761) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and celestial mechanics.
During the 18th century, the Nesbitt family was influential in the West Indies, where they owned several plantations. One notable member was Archibald Nesbitt (1758 - 1823), a Scottish-born plantation owner in Jamaica.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nesbett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 15 Nesbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 15 | 15.20x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.36x |
| Dunbartonshire | 7 | 39.28x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.17x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 4.10x |
| Dorset | 5 | 11.49x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.77x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.87x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.01x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 2 | 20.83x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.25x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 2.01x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.72x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.19x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Chevington in Northumberland leads with 8 Nesbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Chevington | 8 | 2424.24x |
| Dumbarton | 7 | 282.26x |
| Liscard | 6 | 227.27x |
| Blandford Forum | 5 | 581.40x |
| Newington | 5 | 20.41x |
| Barony | 4 | 7.37x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 22.92x |
| St Martin In Fields | 4 | 100.76x |
| Westgate | 4 | 65.47x |
| Tweedmouth | 3 | 243.90x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 11.81x |
| Lancaster | 2 | 42.74x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 2 | 58.65x |
| Troqueer | 2 | 158.73x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 30.58x |
| Hemel Hempstead | 1 | 48.54x |
| Honiton | 1 | 131.58x |
| Lichfield St Mary | 1 | 153.85x |
| Newton On Ayr | 1 | 67.11x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.10x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 31.95x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.87x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 9.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nesbett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nesbett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nesbett households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Colliery Putter | 2 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Apprentice Dressmaker | 1 |
| Coach Trimmer | 1 |
| Dividends | 1 |
| Division Officer In.Rev | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Unemployed | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Errand Boy (Mess) | 1 |
| Forman (Manure Works) | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Iron Turner | 1 |
| Laborer At Iron Wharf | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Page | 1 |
| Photographers Apprentice | 1 |
| Photographic Artist | 1 |
| Provision Agent | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Waiter (Dom) | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Nesbett surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Nesbett a modern rank of #37,705.
An English locational surname referring to someone from a location called Nesbitt or Nesbeth.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nesbett bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.