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Nesbitt Family History

Nesbitt Name Meaning

Scottish (Borders) northern English and northern Irish: habitational name from Nesbit (part of Nesbit and Thorpe Bulmer in Durham) Nesbit in Doddington or Nesbitt in Stamfordham (both in Northumberland) or Nesbit in Edrom (Berwickshire). All of these placenames appear to derive from Old English nēs or nesu ‘nose’ in the sense ‘promontory’ or ‘projecting piece of land in the bend of a river’ + Old English byht ‘bend curve (in a river)’. This surname has been established in Ireland since the early 17th century.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Nesbit, Merritt, Nett, Escott, Hewitt, Nesmith, Redditt, Newbill

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Nesbitt family from?

You can see how Nesbitt families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nesbitt family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nesbitt families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 22 Nesbitt families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 24% of all the recorded Nesbitt's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Nesbitt families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nesbitt surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Nesbitt ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nesbitt. 17% of Nesbitt men worked as a Laborer and 11% of Nesbitt women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nesbitt were Truck Driver and Cook. .

View Census Data for Nesbitt | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    17%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    11%
  • Teacher
    8%
  • Stenographer
    6%
  • Cook
    6%
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What Nesbitt family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 75,000 census records available for the last name Nesbitt. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nesbitt census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Nesbitt

Passenger Lists

There are 12,000 immigration records available for the last name Nesbitt. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Nesbitt. For the veterans among your Nesbitt ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Nesbitt lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Nesbitt life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Nesbitt in 1944 was 40, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nesbitt

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