Show ContentsNutting History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Nutting comes from Cnute, a popular name in England in the early Middle Ages. It was popular thanks to the influence of Cnut, a Dane, who became King of England in 1016. "There are two Cnuts in Domesday, one in Yorkshire, the other in Derbyshire." 1

Alternatively, it may be of nickname origin, from the Old English word hnutu, which meant brown, and would have been given to someone with a brown complexion. It may be that this is the origin of the English saying "Brown as a nut," used for someone who has spent a lot of time in the sun.

Early Origins of the Nutting family

The surname Nutting was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Nutting family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nutting research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1576, 1577, 1600, 1605, 1612, 1620, 1623, 1640, 1653, 1656, 1660, 1668, 1716, 1722 and 1987 are included under the topic Early Nutting History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nutting Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Nutting were recorded, including Nutt, Nudd, Nutting, Knutt, Nuttman, Nutter and others.

Early Notables of the Nutting family

More information is included under the topic Early Nutting Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nutting Ranking

In the United States, the name Nutting is the 10,445th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Nutting family to Ireland

Some of the Nutting family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Nutting migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Nutting family emigrate to North America:

Nutting Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Nutting, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1656 3
  • Thomas Nutting, who landed in Maryland in 1667 3
  • Nathaniel Nutting, who arrived in New England in 1677 3
Nutting Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joshua Nutting, who settled in Boston in 1763
  • Joseph Nutting, who settled in Maryland in 1774
Nutting Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J S Nutting, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
  • C Nutting, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • J G Nutting, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3

Canada Nutting migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nutting Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Nutting U.E. (b. 1758) born in Westminster, London, England who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a Taxes Collector in Saint John, he died in 1826 4

Australia Nutting migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Nutting Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ann Nutting, aged 26, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Nutting (post 1700) +

  • Charles Cleveland Nutting (1858-1927), American zoologist, born in Jacksonville, Illinois, eponym of Nutting's flycatcher
  • Robert Nutting (b. 1962), Chairman of the Board and principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Wallace Hall Nutting (1928-2023), United States Army general, Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command (USCINCSOUTH) from 1979 to 1983 and as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command (USCINCRED) from 1983 to 1985
  • Perley Gilman Nutting (1873-1949), American founder of the Optical Society of America
  • Edward H. Nutting (b. 1869), American Republican politician, Member of Massachusetts State Senate Third Worcester District, 1931-36; Candidate for Mayor of Leominster, Massachusetts, 1939 6
  • W. P. Nutting, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1900, 1908 (alternate) 6
  • Newton Wright Nutting (1840-1889), American Republican politician, Oswego County District Attorney, 1869-71; Oswego County Judge, 1878-83; U.S. Representative from New York, 1883-85, 1887-89 (24th District 1883-85, 27th District 1887-89); Died in office 1889 6
  • Levi Nutting, American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 8th District, 1865 6
  • James L. Nutting (1818-1880), American Republican politician, School teacher and principal; Iron works operator; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, 1876 6
  • Gerry B. Nutting, American Republican politician, Mayor of Saco, Maine, 1941 6
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Lysander.htm
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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