NameCensus.

UK surname

Nistor

A Romanian surname indicating the bearer's ancestors resided near an alder thicket.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Greenwich and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nistor is 278 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

2016

278 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Nistor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nistor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nistor 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
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 2 #38,557
1998 modern 2 #38,550
1999 modern 3 #38,318
2000 modern 4 #38,004
2001 modern 4 #37,862
2002 modern 5 #37,723
2003 modern 6 #37,586
2004 modern 16 #36,439
2005 modern 29 #35,431
2006 modern 33 #35,329
2007 modern 53 #34,115
2008 modern 71 #32,753
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 225 #18,142
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Nistors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Greenwich, Derby and Harrow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 006 Brent
2 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
3 Derby 016 Derby
4 Derby 018 Derby
5 Harrow 033 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nistor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nistor

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Nistor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nistor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Nistor is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nistor is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nistor 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 Nistor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Unknown

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

Meaning and origin of Nistor

The surname Nistor has its origins in Romania, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Romanian word "nistor," which means "small" or "little." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone of small stature or a younger child.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nistor can be found in a document from the Moldavian Principality, dated around 1450. This document mentions a certain "Nistor Lupul," who was a landowner in the region. The name also appears in various other historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries, primarily in the areas now known as Moldova and Wallachia.

In the 17th century, the name Nistor was particularly prevalent in the town of Târgu Neamț, located in the northeastern part of modern-day Romania. Several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged from this area, including Nistor Ureche, a Moldavian chronicler and writer who lived from around 1590 to 1660. His work, "Letopisețul Țării Moldovei" (The Chronicle of the Moldavian Land), is considered one of the earliest and most important historical works in Romanian literature.

Another prominent figure with the surname Nistor was Ion Nistor, a historian and politician who lived from 1876 to 1962. He served as the Prime Minister of Romania for a brief period in 1935 and is known for his contributions to the study of Romanian history and culture.

In more recent times, the name Nistor has been associated with individuals from various walks of life. For instance, Gheorghe Nistor (1904-1994) was a celebrated Romanian composer and conductor, while Virgil Nistor (1939-2016) was a respected actor and theater director.

Furthermore, the name Nistor has connections to certain place names in Romania. For example, the village of Nistor-Român in Suceava County is believed to have derived its name from a person with this surname who may have been a local landowner or notable figure.

Throughout its history, the surname Nistor has undergone various spelling variations, such as Nistorescu, Nistorache, and Nistorescu, which likely emerged as a result of regional dialects and linguistic evolution over time. However, the core meaning and significance of the name remain rooted in its Romanian origins and the notion of smallness or youth.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nistor surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nistor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Nistor a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Nistor surname mean?

A Romanian surname indicating the bearer's ancestors resided near an alder thicket.

What does the Nistor map show?

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