This is an ancient surname, which is generally believed to be Gaelic and Scottish, but may in fact be pre 7th century Norse-Viking and Olde English as well. Whatever its origin and it would seem that the same word 'nes' meaning a headland, was used throughout the British Isles and Scandanavia. In Scottish history, few names go father back than Nes, which ancestors lived among the clans of the Pictish tribe. First found in Fife, where they held a family seat from early times.