Nesbitt
Clan Crest: A boar passant Sable, armed Argent, langued Gules
Clan Motto: I Byd It (I endure)
Lands: Berwickshire
Region: Regional
Historic Seat: Nisbet House
Clan Chief: Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk
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Nisbet / Nesbitt Clan History
The name Nesbit can be found in records dating back to the 12th century in the Barony of Nesbit in Berwickshire. The name of the area is possibly derived from a nose-shaped hill. However, variations of the name appear in older documents: In 1160, William de Nesbite is mentioned as a witness to a charter granted to Coldingham Priory by Patrick, Earl of Dunbar. Thomas Nisbet was Prior of Coldingham from 1219 to 1240, and Philip de Nesbit, along with James, John, and Adam Nisbet, appear in Edward I's Ragman Roll in 1296.
Robert the Bruce granted Adam Nisbet of that ilk a charter to the land of Knocklies on the condition that he provide one knight for the King's army. From this point forward, the Nesbitt name continued to support the cause of many Scottish Kings. Alexander Nesbitt was a staunch supporter of Charles I and served as Sheriff of Berwick for a time. However, when the civil war broke out, he joined the Royalist forces, along with his son Phillip, who commanded one of Charles' regiments. Phillip fought alongside James Graham, Marquess of Montrose against the Covenanters, but was captured at the Battle of Philiphaugh and later executed in Glasgow. During these wars, Phillip lost two brothers, Alexander and Robert, but his youngest brother, Adam, was spared, and his son, Alexander Nisbet, became one of the most respected heraldic authorities. System of Heraldry, his most famous work, was published in Edinburgh in 1722. He passed away in 1725.
The Nisbets of Paxton, Dean, Dirleton, and Cairnhill were also branches of the Nesbitt family. Lord Dirleton and Lord Eastbank are two judges descended from the Dirleton family. The Nisbets of Cairnhill live in The Drum, a magnificent Adam residence south of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, this magnificent structure is not open to the public.
Duns' Nisbet House. A former residence of the Nesbitts
The Banjo
Lord Lyon acknowledged Robert Anthony Ellis Nesbitt as chief of the name and arms of Nesbitt (or Nisbit) in 1994. The new chief could trace his ancestry back to Reverend Philip Nisbet, Alexander's heraldic writer's grandfather. He died in September 2000, and his son Mark succeeded him.
Nisbet / Nesbitt Places & People
Clan Nesbitt Individuals
Nisbet, Alexander (1657-1725)
One of the most influential writers on Scottish heraldry. He is still widely cited, and his works are still in print after nearly 300 years.
Alexander Nisbet was a descendant of the ancient Borders family of Nisbet of Nisbet House, near Duns, Berwickshire, and the grandson of Adam Nisbet, an Edinburgh lawyer. He enrolled at Edinburgh University in 1675, then went on to become a private heraldry student while earning a living as a writer in Edinburgh. On 5 December 1725, he died in poverty and was buried in the family vault in Greyfriars Kirk. Nisbet's cousin, Robert Chancellor Nesbitt, arranged for John Buchan to unveil a memorial plaque in Greyfriars Kirk in 1934, which is still visible today.
Nisbet / Nesbitt Tartans
Nesbitt Contemporary
Nisbet / Nesbitt Crest & Coats of Arms
Clan Nisbet Crest
A boar passant Sable, armed Argent, langued Gules, is the crest.
Coats of Arms of Nisbet
A word about Coats of Arms:
A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.
Argent, three boars' heads erased sable; crest, a boar passant of the last; motto, I byde it; as in Plate of Achievements.
The most illustrious families of the name are Nisbet of Dean, Nisbet of Craigintinnie, and Nisbet of Dirleton, who are all descendants of three sons of one Hary Nisbet, merchant in Edinburgh, who is descended from Nisbet of that Ilk.
The current situation Sir JOHN NISBET of Dean, Baronet, carries argent, a cheveron gules between three boars' heads erased sable; crest, a boar's head sable; motto, I byde it. The family has used to carry their arms supported on the right side by a savage wreathed about the head and middle, all proper, holding a batton on his shoulder, and on the left by a greyhound, all proper; which can be seen cut on the frontispiece of their aisle of the West-church, and in Plate of Achievements.
Sir JOHN NISBET of Dirleton, a well-known lawyer, was a Senator of the College of Justice and an Advocate to his Majesty King Charles II from 1663 to 1677: Sir Patrick Nisbet was his father, and he was also one of the Lords of Session, stiled Lord Eastbank, descended from the third son. Dirleton carried argent on a cheveron gules, betwixt three boars' heads erased sable, as many cinquefoils of the first; the cheveron ensigned on the top with a thistle, proper; crest, a hand holding a pair of balances; with the motto, Discite justitiam; which arms are now carried by William Nisbet of Dirleton, eldest son of the above-mentioned Alexander Nisbet of Craigintinnie, as heir of tailzie to Sir John Nisbet. See also the Plate of Achievements.
NISBET Of Greenholm, a family of long standing in the shire of Ayr, descended from Nisbet of that ilk, bears argent, three boars' heads erased within a bordure sable; crest, a boar's head as the former; and this motto, Vis fortibus arma, as in Plate of Achievements. Mr ALEXANDER NISBET, Chirurgeon in Edinburgh, carries argent, three boars' heads erased sable, within a bordure invected gules, for his distinction; crest and motto, as Greenholm. Achievements Plate.
Mark Nesbitt and his ilk
Argent are the arms. Sable, three boars' heads erased, armed Argent, and langued Gules
Crest: a sable boar passant armed Argent and langued Gules.
I BYD IT is the motto.
Supporters: Two rampant boars Sable, armed Argent and langued Gules on a compartment Vert adorned with acorns Proper.
A boar passant Sable, armed Argent, and langued Gules is the badge.
The Court of the Lord Lyon matriculated on March 2, 1995. Volume 78, folio 1 of the Lyon Register.
1) Dean's NISBET
2) Sir Patrick NISBETof Dean Argent a chevron Gules between three erased boars' heads Sable. 1)Paul's Scottish Ordinary, Sir James Balfour, 1672-7
2) Alexander Nisbet's 1722 A System of Heraldry
1) Dirleton NISBET
2) Dirleton's Sir John NISBET 1) Azure on a chevron Gules between three boars' heads erased Sable as many cinquefoils of the field slipped Vert in the honour.
2) Argent, three cinquefoils Argent, on a chevron Gules ensigned with a thistle Proper between three boars' heads erased Sable, Sir James Balfour Paul's Scottish Ordinary.
1st Matriculation 1680-7
2) Alexander Nisbet's 1722 A System of Heraldry
NISBET, Alexander.
on a chevron Craigintinnie Argent Gules, three cinquefoils Argent, three boars' heads erased Sable. A System of Heraldry by Alexander Nisbet, 1722
NISBET
Three boars' heads erased within a bordure Sable of Greenholm Argent. A System of Heraldry by Alexander Nisbet, 1722
NISBET, Alexander.
Three boars' heads erased Sable within a bordure invected Gules, Argent. The work of Alexander Nisbet
A Heraldry System 1722
HAMILTON-NISBET
1st and 4th Dirleton Argent on a chevron On top, gules ensigned with a thistle proper between three boars' heads erased. Sable, three cinquefoils of the first, second, and third Gules, a sword paleways Argent between three cinquefoils of the second. The Scottish Ordinary of Sir James Balfour Paul.
1801
NISBET Elias NISBET
Bourdeaux merchant Argent on an indented chevron Sable was erased as many cinquefoils as Gules between three goats' heads. Sir James Balfour is a British politician. Paul's Ordinary in Scotland.
1860 Stacie
NESBITT, Robert Chancellor
Argent, three heads of boars erased Sable a bordure, or for distinction. Volume II of the Ordinary of Arms, 1902-1973
30/73 October 4th, 1933
More to the north NISBET
the Drummer Argent, three boars' heads erased within a bordure, 1st & 4th Sable, an annulet of the last for distinction Second Argent, three mullets of the field within a bordure engrailed of the second (More). 3rd Argent, a hare salient Argent, a hunting horn around his neck garnished and stringed in gules Or a sword fessways of the first hilted and pommelled of the fourth on a chief of the second. A Warrant of Arms
Volume II, from 1902 to 1973
31/72 November 8, 1935
Nisbet-Hamilton, Lady Mary Christopher Nisbet
A sword paleways Argent between three cinquefoils of the last 2nd Argent on a chevron Gules ensigned with a thistle proper between three boars' heads erased Sable as many cinquefoils of the first 3rd Argent a chevron Gules between three pine apples proper a chief Sable. Sir James Balfour is a British politician. Paul's Ordinary in Scotland.
1885
Nisbet-Hamilton-Ogilvy
by Biel First and fourth Argent, a lion passant guardant Gules gorged with an open crown and crowned with a close imperial one Or (for Ogilvy), second and third Argent, an eagle displayed Sable beaked and membered Gules (for Ramsay) in chief on the quarters a crescent Gules over all an escutcheon of pretence quarterly i & iv Gules a sword paleways Argent between three cinquefoils of the second (for Hamilton) ii Argent on a chevron Gules ensigned on the top with a thistle proper between three boars' heads erased Sable as many cinquefoils of the first (for Nisbet) iii Argent a lion rampant Gules within a bordure Ermine (for Dundas). Sir James Balfour is a British politician. Paul's Ordinary in Scotland.
1888
NESBITT, Richard John Peter
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada Per fess rayonné Azure and Or on a pale counterchanged between two garbs Or, a Thistle flowered Purpure slipped and leaved Vert in chief, and a sword point upwards Argent hilt and pommel Or in base. Volume II, page 267, Canadian Heraldic Authority, Ottawa, 22nd November 1993.
NISBET-BROWN, Eric Robert James
Toronto's municipal government Purpure a tree exterminated composed per pale to the dexter of a sugar maple and to the sinister of an apple tree fructed entirely of Copper. The Canadian Heraldic Authority, Ottawa, October 28, 1996. 144 in Volume III
By ScotsTee
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