NameCensus.

UK surname

Nesbitt

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "nose bit," likely referring to a geographical feature.

In the 1881 census there were 824 people recorded with the Nesbitt surname, ranking it #4,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,921, ranked #2,313, up from #4,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, South Tyneside and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nesbitt is 3,108 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 254.5%.

1881 census count

824

Ranked #4,559

Modern count

2,921

2016, ranked #2,313

Peak year

2010

3,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nesbitt had 824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,921 in 2016, ranked #2,313.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,591 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nesbitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nesbitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nesbitt 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 445 #5,532
1861 historical 408 #6,298
1881 historical 824 #4,559
1891 historical 977 #4,234
1901 historical 1,591 #3,248
1911 historical 1,502 #3,211
1997 modern 2,840 #2,277
1998 modern 2,945 #2,286
1999 modern 2,984 #2,276
2000 modern 2,922 #2,304
2001 modern 2,842 #2,308
2002 modern 2,928 #2,305
2003 modern 2,871 #2,291
2004 modern 2,884 #2,285
2005 modern 2,852 #2,276
2006 modern 2,853 #2,277
2007 modern 2,879 #2,276
2008 modern 2,896 #2,279
2009 modern 3,014 #2,237
2010 modern 3,108 #2,221
2011 modern 3,015 #2,264
2012 modern 2,908 #2,302
2013 modern 2,940 #2,314
2014 modern 2,963 #2,309
2015 modern 2,950 #2,295
2016 modern 2,921 #2,313

Geography

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Where Nesbitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, London parishes, Gateshead and Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, South Tyneside and 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 Darlington Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
2 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
3 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
4 Sunderland 010 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 023 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nesbitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nesbitt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nesbitt, 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 Nesbitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Nesbitt 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, Nesbitt 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

Nesbitt is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nesbitt 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 Nesbitt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Nesbitt

The surname Nesbitt is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "nesse," meaning nose or promontory, and "bitt," meaning a bite or piece. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a distinctive nose-shaped headland or promontory.

The Nesbitt surname is first recorded in the early 13th century in the county of Berwickshire, which lies along the Scottish-English border. Variations of the spelling include Nesbitt, Nesbit, Nisbett, and Niesbit. The name is also associated with several place names, such as Nesbit in Northumberland, England, and Nesbitt in County Durham, England.

One of the earliest recorded Nesbitts is Sir William de Nesbyt, who was a Scottish knight and landowner in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Nesbitt family held lands in various parts of Scotland, including Berwickshire, East Lothian, and Roxburghshire. Notable figures include James Nesbitt (1610-1672), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1661.

In the 18th century, Robert Nesbitt (1707-1783) was a prominent Scottish merchant and banker in London. He was instrumental in establishing the British Linen Company, one of the earliest commercial banks in Scotland.

The 19th century saw several notable Nesbitts, including Louisa Cranstoun Nisbett (1812-1858), a Scottish writer and poet. Her works included "Poems, Scriptural and Miscellaneous" and "The Cairngorm Mountains."

Another notable figure was Sir John Nesbitt (1869-1945), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1913 to 1919 and as the Governor of Nigeria from 1919 to 1925.

During the 20th century, Kathleen Nesbitt (1888-1968) was a British artist and illustrator known for her depictions of children's literature characters, including those from the works of Lewis Carroll and J.M. Barrie.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nesbitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nesbitt 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. Durham leads with 276 Nesbitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.56x.

County Total Index
Durham 276 11.56x
Northumberland 164 13.73x
Lancashire 114 1.20x
Middlesex 52 0.65x
Yorkshire 41 0.52x
Surrey 32 0.82x
Lanarkshire 30 1.16x
Hampshire 26 1.58x
Kent 16 0.58x
Cumberland 15 2.17x
Lincolnshire 8 0.62x
Staffordshire 7 0.26x
Berwickshire 6 6.17x
Monmouthshire 6 1.03x
Devon 5 0.30x
Cheshire 4 0.23x
Dorset 3 0.57x
Essex 3 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.36x
Inverness-shire 2 0.83x
Midlothian 2 0.19x
Suffolk 2 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x
Morayshire 1 0.80x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 62 Nesbitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.24x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 62 30.24x
Darlington 37 40.12x
Liverpool 33 5.70x
Gateshead 25 13.98x
Ancroft 18 428.57x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 16 15.47x
Westoe 16 11.82x
Barony 14 2.13x
Shettleston 13 55.91x
Corbridge 12 274.60x
York St Mary 12 36.42x
Barrow In Furness 11 8.49x
Battersea 11 3.72x
Berwick Upon Tweed 11 43.46x
Lamesley 11 85.54x
Prudhoe 11 132.37x
Salford 11 3.93x
Manchester 10 2.33x
Southampton St Mary 10 9.66x
Whitehaven 10 27.14x
Alnwick 9 43.82x
Christchurch 9 25.22x
Tudhoe 9 43.06x
Crossgate 8 76.63x
Ryton Woodside 8 268.46x
Whitley 8 207.25x
Whitley Monkseaton 8 2666.67x
Bournmoor 7 186.67x
Brandon Byshottles 7 23.40x
Chirton 7 25.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.63x
Ouston 7 201.15x
West Chevington 7 507.25x
Whitby 7 26.11x
Bedlington 6 15.04x
Coldstream 6 85.23x
Felkington 6 2068.97x
Framwellgate 6 42.40x
Llanfoist 6 149.25x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 12.87x
St Marylebone London 6 1.40x
Usworth 6 47.32x
Winlaton 6 26.19x
Cowpen 5 18.18x
Ford 5 114.42x
Louth 5 17.00x
Newington 5 1.69x
Sheffield 5 1.97x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.34x
Westgate 5 6.76x
Amble 4 73.53x
Anick 4 952.38x
Barnes 4 24.18x
Beswick 4 16.42x
Crompton 4 14.74x
East Chevington 4 100.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.47x
Everton 4 1.32x
Heworth 4 8.50x
Lancaster 4 7.06x
Lewisham 4 2.74x
Paddington London 4 1.36x
Plumstead 4 4.38x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 19.63x
Preston 4 1.57x
Preston Quarter 4 20.65x
St Pancras London 4 0.62x
Streatham 4 6.71x
Toxteth Park 4 1.24x
Walsall Foreign 4 2.86x
Westminster St John 4 4.09x
Willesden 4 5.29x
Blackburn 3 1.18x
Blandford Forum 3 28.85x
Coxlodge 3 33.04x
Govan 3 0.47x
Hurworth 3 71.77x
St Paul Covent Garden 3 37.36x
Washington 3 29.97x
Whitfield 3 365.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 35
Margaret 30
Jane 29
Sarah 18
Ann 17
Eliza 14
Isabella 13
Annie 12
Hannah 11
Catherine 10
Ellen 10
Frances 9
Emma 8
Clara 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Alice 5
Emily 5
Maria 5
Charlotte 4
Dorothy 4
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Susannah 4
Barbara 3
Harriet 3
Eleanor 2
Elenor 2
Eliz. 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Maude 2
May 2
Amy 1
Blanche 1
Cathrine 1
Dorathy 1
Eliz 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Jemima 1
Josephine 1
June 1
Thomason 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
Thomas 44
Robert 37
James 33
William 33
George 29
Joseph 16
Henry 9
Andrew 6
David 6
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Albert 4
Alexander 4
Charles 4
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Matthew 3
Michael 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Chrisopher 1
Creighton 1
Dawson 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Loranzo 1
Louis 1
Maurice 1
Neil 1
Pearce 1

FAQ

Nesbitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nesbitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 824 people were recorded with the Nesbitt surname. That placed it at #4,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nesbitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,921 in 2016. That gives Nesbitt a modern rank of #2,313.

What does the Nesbitt surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "nose bit," likely referring to a geographical feature.

What does the Nesbitt map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nesbitt 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.