Clan Nesbitt

Clan Nesbitt or Clan Nisbet is a Scottish Clan of the boarder regions of Scotland, originating in the Berwickshire district. It is believed that the surname Nesbitt was derived from a place name that existed near Edrom. The first recorded appearance of the surname is William de Nesbite who was listed as a witness to a charter in about 1160. The progenitor of the Nesbitt clan is said to be Aldan de Nisbet who was granted lands by King David I in 1139.

The motto of the clan is I Byde It, which means I shall endure or I shall preserve. The Clan crest features a Boar Passant Sable, Armed Argent and Langued Gules.

The historic seat of the clan was Nesbitt House located near Duns, Berwickshire. In the 12th century the Nesbitt family built two houses named West Nesbit and East Nesbit. The house at East Nesbit was lost to time, however the house at West Nesbit has been extended to make up the current house. The current house was built in about 1630 by Sir Alexander Nisbet. The Nesbitt Clan lost ownership of the house in 1652 when Sir Alexander had to sell the property to pay debt acquired during the Civil War. The house is currently a private residence.

After the loss of Nesbitt land due to the results of the English Civil War the Clan went Chief-less until 1994 when Robert Anthony Ellis Nesbitt was name clan chief by the Lord Lyon.

Currently there are three branches of the Clan Nesbitt society, The Nesbitt Society North America, founded in 1981 by Professor John Nesbitt of Iowa City, Iowa, The Nesbitt Society British Isles founded in 1983 and the Nesbitt Society Australia founded in 1986.