Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Nelestune c.1196 Finc 22, Spec

• Nelestone 1235 Ass

• Neleston' c.1200×1250 Spec 15th

• Neleston 1355 Finc

• Neellestone 1235×6 Ass

• Neliston c.1215×45 Finc 1344 IPM

• Nelyston 1422×3 Finc

• Nelleston early13th Guis

• Nelston 14th Ct 1351,1354×5 Finc 1649 Comps

• Nelston alias Nelson alias Nelstone Grange 1609 IPM

• Neylson 1516×7 Finc

• Nelson Farm, High Nelston 1770 BakerBaker

Etymology

'Niel's estate', ME  pers.n. Nel , Neel , Niel (ultimately from OIr  Níall , ON  Njáll ) + tūn. The pers.n. is from Niel or Nigellus, the dapifer ('cupbearer') of Robert Brus II d. c.1194, whose family held the whole of Hart and Hartness (VCH III259).