Nestor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Nestor family

The surname Nestor was first found in Sussex where the Pipe Rolls of 1185 list as a forename, Nest de Barri. The same rolls list as a surname, Adam Nest in Dorset. Years later, the name Nesta was found in the Assize Rolls for Worcester in 1221 and the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1222. Nesta de Broketon was found in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1254 and Richard Neste was in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. The name may be a Welsh diminutive of the name Agnes as James Nest occurs in the Registrar-General's List of Names. 1

Yorkshire records revealed William Neste as holding lands there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

The Nestor and Nester variants are generally thought to be Irish, having derived from the the Gaelic Mac Girr an Adhastair, meaning son of the short man of the bridle. The surname is most common in County Galway and County Clare. 3

Early History of the Nestor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nestor research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Nestor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nestor Spelling Variations

Nestor has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Ness, Nest, Nessi, Nas, Nassi, Nesti, Nass, Noss, Nestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Nestor family

More information is included under the topic Early Nestor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nestor Ranking

In the United States, the name Nestor is the 4,592^nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Nestor migration to Canada +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Nestors to arrive on North American shores:

Nestor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mrs. Bridget Nestor, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lady Milton" departing 5th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 5

Nestor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Nestor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ann Nestor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
Mary Nestor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
Thomas Nestor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
Nestor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
Bridget Nestor, aged 24, a dairymaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nestor (post 1700) +

Ernie Nestor (1946-2025), American college basketball coach
William P. Nestor, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State Senate 15th District, 1980 8
Kevin Nestor, American politician, Representative from Ohio 15th District, 1998 8
Eddie Nestor (b. 1964), English actor, stand up comedian, TV and radio presenter
Kelly Nestor (b. 1968), Australian television news presenter
Loïc Nestor (b. 1989), French professional footballer
Daniel Mark Nestor (b. 1972), Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player
Joseph Nestor Mondello (1938-2022), American politician and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago from 2018 to 2021, Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee
Paul Nestor Carlin (b. 1931), American businessman, United States Postmaster General from 1985 to 1986
Nestor Rate? (1933-2024), Romanian-American writer and journalist

Sources +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 91)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
South Australian Register Monday 26th December 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Epaminondas 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1853.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html