Originally, it encompassed the two sokn (parishes) of Hinderaa and Sjærnerø, located on the northern (mainland) part of the municipality and the southern (islands) in the Nedstrandfjorden, respectively.

This name came from the old Hinderaa farm (Old Norse: Hinderá) since the first Nedstrand Church was built there.

[7] On 10 August 1881, a royal resolution changed the name of the municipality back to Nerstrand.

[8] On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Nedstrand.

[10] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Nedstrand was made up of 17 representatives that were elected to four year terms.

The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows: The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Nedstrand (incomplete list):