Nestor is an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 surname

Surname

A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...

.

The original form of the name was Mac Girr an Adhastair, meaning son of the short man of the bridle

Bridle

A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, the "bridle" includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit....

. It was sometimes shortened to Mac an Adhastair. It may have originated from an ancestor responsible for a chief's horse.

The surname is most common in County Galway

County Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...

 and County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

. The clan were natives of Corcomroe

Corcomroe

Corcomroe is the anglicised form of the tuath of Corco Modhruadh in the north of County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. It is also the name of the obsolete barony which covers the south-western half of this tuath...

 in the latter county, which in the Middle Ages formed the north-westernmost territory of the kingdom of Thomond

Thomond

Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...

. The Mac Girr an Adhastair were associated with the local lords, the
Ó Lochlainn family.

People with the surname

• Agnes Nestor
  Agnes Nestor
  Agnes Nestor was a United States campaigner for women's suffrage and workers' rights.-Biography:Nestor was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but at the age of seven moved with her family to Chicago, Illinois, where she started work in a glove factory...
  
  
• Daniel Nestor
  Daniel Nestor
  Daniel Mark Nestor, CM , born Danijel Nestorović September 4, 1972, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
  
  , (born 1972), Canadian grand slam winning tennis player
• Kelly Nestor, (born 1969), Australian newsreader
• Pam Nestor
  Pam Nestor
  Pam Nestor is a former singer and lyricist who was active in the entertainment industry during the 1970s.-Early days:Pam Nestor was born in Berbice, Guyana, on 28 April 1948, and came to England in 1961. She auditioned for the musical Hair in 1969 and landed a part in it...
  
  , (born 1948), lyricist and singer
• Eddie Nestor
  Eddie Nestor
  Eddie Nestor is an English actor, stand up comedian, TV and radio presenter, who is best known for his starring roles in The Real McCoy and Desmonds, as well as playing a small role in Trainspotting.He hosted...
  
  , (born 1964) broadcaster and comedian