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

Nest, 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 Nest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nest in America

Nest is the 58042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nest surname appeared 350 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nest 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 Nest

The surname Nest originated in England during the late medieval period, with the earliest recorded uses dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "nest," meaning a bird's nest or dwelling place. This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived near a prominent nest or was known for their skill in finding or collecting bird's nests.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no recorded instances of the surname Nest. However, it is worth noting that surnames were not commonly used or recorded at that time, and many families adopted surnames in the following centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Nest was John Nest, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1260. Another early record is that of William atte Neste, found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The prefix "atte" was a common addition to surnames in medieval England, meaning "at the," further suggesting that the name referred to a dwelling or location.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Neste, Neast, and Neaste, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in that era. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Nest, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1440 to 1515.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Nest continued to be found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire. In 1592, a John Nest was listed as a freeman of the city of York, indicating his right to trade and participate in civic affairs.

In the 18th century, the name Nest was associated with several notable figures, including Richard Nest (1691-1768), a British Anglican clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Raphoe in Ireland, and John Nest (1728-1817), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Winchelsea.

As the surname spread across England and into other parts of the British Isles, it also appeared in various place names, such as Nest Farm in Gloucestershire and Nest House in Lancashire, further reinforcing its connection to dwellings or locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nest

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

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 Nest 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 Nest 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 Nest was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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