The name "Nestow" originates from the Cree language, where nestow directly translates to "my brother-in-law," though the specific reason for adopting this term for the community remains undocumented in historical records. Nearby, the Nestow Provincial Natural Area—spanning 116 hectares and managed partly by the Alberta Conservation Association—protects local ecosystems in the Dry Mixedwood natural region and biophysical features like maturing club moss spores, highlighting the hamlet's proximity to conserved natural sites. With limited infrastructure and a focus on agriculture, Nestow exemplifies the sparse, unincorporated settlements characteristic of rural Alberta, contributing to the broader economic fabric of Westlock County, which supports farming, forestry, and oil and gas activities across its 3,169 square kilometres.
The Post Office opened on February 1, 1914.