NameCensus.

UK surname

Nesbit

Derived from a place name meaning "nose bit," likely referring to a distinguishing facial feature or nickname.

In the 1881 census there were 927 people recorded with the Nesbit surname, ranking it #4,147 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 652, ranked #8,163, down from #4,147 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ford and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nesbit is 1,005 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.7%.

1881 census count

927

Ranked #4,147

Modern count

652

2016, ranked #8,163

Peak year

1901

1,005 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nesbit had 927 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,147 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016, ranked #8,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,005 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nesbit surname distribution map

The map shows where the Nesbit surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Nesbit surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nesbit over time

The 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 674 #3,852
1861 historical 671 #4,001
1881 historical 927 #4,147
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 1,005 #4,741
1911 historical 655 #6,408
1997 modern 638 #7,776
1998 modern 666 #7,770
1999 modern 663 #7,825
2000 modern 676 #7,695
2001 modern 664 #7,668
2002 modern 661 #7,847
2003 modern 643 #7,885
2004 modern 646 #7,875
2005 modern 626 #8,008
2006 modern 638 #7,917
2007 modern 637 #7,998
2008 modern 643 #7,982
2009 modern 648 #8,093
2010 modern 680 #7,956
2011 modern 668 #7,988
2012 modern 639 #8,163
2013 modern 647 #8,246
2014 modern 658 #8,175
2015 modern 646 #8,236
2016 modern 652 #8,163

Geography

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Where Nesbits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ford, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Ford Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 022 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 024 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 025 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nesbit

These lists show first names that appear often with the Nesbit surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nesbit

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nesbit, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Nesbit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Nesbit household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nesbit is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nesbit is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nesbit falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nesbit is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nesbit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nesbit

The surname Nesbit is believed to have originated in Scotland, derived from the Old English words "nest" and "byt," meaning "a dwelling near a nest or hill." It is thought to have been initially used as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or nest.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Nesbit name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England. This suggests that the name was well-established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

The Nesbit family held lands in various parts of Scotland, including Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. In the 14th century, Sir William Nesbit was a prominent figure who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was granted lands in Dalkeith for his loyalty and bravery.

In the 16th century, the Nesbits of Dalkeith played a significant role in Scottish history. Sir Alexander Nesbit (c. 1530-1590) was a staunch supporter of the Protestant Reformation and served as a Lord of the Congregation during the Scottish Reformation.

Another notable figure was Sir Patrick Nesbit (1566-1624), who was appointed Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1619 and played a crucial role in the negotiations between King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) and the Scottish Parliament.

The Nesbit name also spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. One notable English bearer of the name was Edith Nesbit (1858-1924), a renowned children's author who wrote classic works such as "The Railway Children" and "Five Children and It."

In Ireland, the Nesbit name is often spelled as "Nesbitt," and several prominent individuals have borne this variation. These include James Nesbitt (born 1965), a renowned actor known for his roles in films and television shows such as "Bloody Sunday" and "Cold Feet."

While the Nesbit surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread worldwide, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including literature, law, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nesbit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nesbit surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 401 Nesbits recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.00x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 401 30.00x
Durham 151 5.65x
Lanarkshire 90 3.10x
Lancashire 66 0.62x
Middlesex 26 0.29x
Midlothian 26 2.16x
Yorkshire 23 0.26x
Surrey 20 0.46x
Dumfriesshire 13 6.55x
Berwickshire 12 11.03x
Wigtownshire 9 7.54x
Kent 8 0.26x
Ayrshire 7 1.04x
Hampshire 7 0.38x
Cheshire 6 0.30x
Cumberland 6 0.78x
Fife 6 1.13x
Hertfordshire 6 0.97x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.75x
Renfrewshire 5 0.72x
East Lothian 4 3.36x
Gloucestershire 4 0.23x
Worcestershire 4 0.34x
Roxburghshire 3 1.84x
Argyllshire 2 0.80x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.83x
Leicestershire 2 0.20x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Buteshire 1 1.84x
Dorset 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Perthshire 1 0.25x
Stirlingshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 31 Nesbits recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.31x.

Place Total Index
Govan 31 4.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 30 25.92x
Old Monkland 27 23.42x
Elswick 25 23.43x
Gateshead 23 11.49x
Wooler 23 489.36x
Shotts 22 63.27x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 20 25.05x
Bedlington 18 40.33x
Corsenside 18 861.24x
Jesmond 18 95.69x
Newcastle On Tyne St 17 24.53x
Norham 16 538.72x
Wallsend 15 35.39x
Monkwearmouth 13 50.82x
Seaton Delaval 12 102.21x
Bishopwearmouth 11 4.79x
Fawdon Clinch Hartside 11 2156.86x
Hutton 11 369.13x
Chatton 10 243.90x
Coxlodge 10 98.43x
Howtell 10 2777.78x
Warenton 10 2564.10x
Widdrington 10 312.50x
Belford 9 316.90x
Langholm 9 63.11x
Stranraer 9 82.49x
Usworth 9 63.42x
Wapping London 9 131.20x
Lowick 8 172.04x
Otterburn 8 784.31x
Preston 8 2.80x
Wolsingham 8 32.84x
Wortley In Bramley 8 11.35x
Aydon 7 2413.79x
Barony 7 0.95x
Chirton 7 23.14x
Duddingston 7 28.97x
Eccleston In Prescot 7 13.08x
Embleton 7 245.61x
Harpurhey 7 47.30x
Hartlepool 7 18.43x
Kirkdale 7 3.90x
Ashford 6 20.10x
Byker 6 9.08x
Chipping Barnet 6 55.40x
Dunfermline 6 7.34x
Howick 6 625.00x
Kirknewton 6 2400.00x
Mason 6 196.72x
Stranton 6 6.67x
Tunstall 6 45.08x
Ulgham 6 270.27x
Edinburgh Old Church 5 51.76x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.03x
Enfield 5 8.48x
Glanton 5 324.68x
Hindley 5 11.00x
Holywell 5 72.67x
Monkseaton 5 333.33x
Tanfield 5 15.73x
Tweedmouth 5 29.99x
Uzmaston 5 289.02x
Walton On Thames 5 24.88x
Westoe 5 3.30x
Camberwell 4 0.70x
Carham 4 115.61x
Crook Billy Row 4 11.69x
East Denton 4 131.58x
Manchester 4 0.83x
Middlesbrough 4 3.45x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 4 156.25x
Newburn Hall 4 158.73x
Norham Mains 4 1538.46x
North Sunderland 4 130.72x
Prudhoe 4 43.01x
Toxteth Park 4 1.11x
Welland 4 148.70x
West Greenock 4 3.20x
Westbury On Trym 4 6.70x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nesbit surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 66
Margaret 40
Jane 30
Elizabeth 29
Isabella 24
Ann 19
Sarah 17
Ellen 12
Hannah 8
Jessie 6
Annie 5
Catherine 5
Agnes 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Francis 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Margret 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Rachel 3
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Christina 2
Dorothy 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Jeany 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Phillis 2
Anna 1
Daisy 1
Dora 1
Elizth.C. 1
Ellener 1
Ellenor 1
Ester 1
Jannett 1
Z.A.K. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nesbit surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 65
James 47
Robert 39
William 39
George 34
Thomas 33
Andrew 10
Henry 7
Joseph 7
Edward 6
Stephen 6
Adam 5
Charles 5
Richard 5
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Hugh 3
Ralph 3
Alexander 2
Bartholomew 2
David 2
Francis 2
Gilbert 2
Jabey 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
A.A. 1
Arnold 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Josep 1
Michael 1
Noble 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Robertson 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wm.H. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Nesbit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nesbit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 927 people were recorded with the Nesbit surname. That placed it at #4,147 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nesbit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016. That gives Nesbit a modern rank of #8,163.

What does the Nesbit surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "nose bit," likely referring to a distinguishing facial feature or nickname.

What does the Nesbit map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nesbit bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.