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

Nesta, 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 Nesta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nesta in America

Nesta is the 47521st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nesta surname appeared 446 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 Nesta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nesta 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 Nesta

The surname Nesta is believed to have originated in Portugal and Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "nesta," which means "this" or "the one," and was likely used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who lived nearby or was part of a particular group.

One of the earliest known references to the Nesta name can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical manuscript from the 13th century. This document mentions a knight named Nuno Nesta, who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors in the 12th century.

In the 14th century, there is a record of a prominent Portuguese nobleman named Martim Nesta, who served as the alcaide (governor) of the town of Silves in the Algarve region. Some historians believe that the name may have originated in this area and later spread to other parts of Portugal and Spain.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Nesta surname appears in various historical documents, including land records, tax rolls, and church registers. One notable individual from this period was Pedro Nesta, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1498.

In the 17th century, the Nesta name can be found in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, which suggests that some families with this surname may have been affected by religious persecution during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Nesta surname, including:

1. Martim Nesta (14th century), Portuguese nobleman and alcaide of Silves.
2. Pedro Nesta (late 15th century), Portuguese explorer and navigator.
3. Joana Nesta (16th century), Portuguese noblewoman and author.
4. Antonio Nesta (17th century), Spanish painter and artist.
5. Carlos Nesta (19th century), Brazilian politician and lawyer.

While the Nesta surname is relatively uncommon, it has left its mark on history, particularly in Portugal and Spain, where it has its roots. The name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period and are connected to the Iberian Peninsula's rich cultural heritage and historical events.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nesta

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

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

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

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