Find out how popular the last name Nesbit is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nesbit.

Nesbit, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Nesbit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nesbit in America

Nesbit is the 7021st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nesbit surname appeared 4,765 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Nesbit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nesbit to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Nesbit name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England.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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nesbit

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nesbit.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nesbit was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Nesbit has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Nesbit was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nesbit, please contact us.

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