NISBET, Nisbett, Nesbit, Nesbet: From the old barony of Nesbit in the parish of Edrom, Rerwickshire. William de Nesebite witnessed a confirmation of the town lands of Nesbite to the Priory of Coldingham by Patrick, first earl of Dunber (Raine, 116), Dominus Robert de Nesbit, miles, witnessed a charter by William de Horuirden to the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1160—1200 (Kelso, 320), and Walter de Nesebyte resigned his rights in the manor of Nesebyte in 1255 (Bain, I, 2026). Jone de Nesbyt nd Thomas de Nesbyte, both of Berwickshire, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206,207), and several other Nisbets or Nesbits appear as charter witnesses in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Robert de Nesbit was one of the hostages for Berwickshire in 1340, Philip of Nesbit of that Ilk acted as sheriff in 1493 (Home, 21, 26), and Thomas of Nisbet was prior of Coldingham from 1446-56. John Nechisbet, vestiarius, was burgess of Glasgow in 1649 (Inquis., 3503). The name was carried to Sweden in the sixteenth century, and there are many descendants of these settlers now existing in the country. One of the best known of the name was Alexander Nisbet (1657-1725), the heraldic writer. Neisbit 1468, Nesbeth 1574, Nesbut 1450, Nesbuth 1452, Nesbyth 1360, Neisbayt 1574, Nesebite 1139, Nesebith 1368, Nesebeht 1498, Nesebyte 1255, Nesdret 1544, Nezebet 1507, Nezebeth 1537, Nisbert 1554, Nisbite 1616, Nizbet 1655, Nysbet 1546, Nysbit 1467, Nyzbet 1660. James Nesbit, the translator of the New Testament into Scots, spells his name Neisbit, Neisbitt, and Nesbeit. See also East-Nisbet.

Parishes, &c., in cos. Roxburgh, Berwick, and Haddington. See Nesbitt.

Local: from the lands of Nisbet in Berwickshire. The family are descended from Philip de Nesbyth, temp. David I.