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origin
Bain Name Meaning Scottish: nickname for a fair-haired person, from Gaelic bàn ‘white’, ‘fair’. This is a common name in the Highlands, first recorded in Perth in 1324. It is also found as a reduced form of McBain.
Northern English: nickname meaning ‘bone’, probably bestowed on an exceptionally tall, lean man, from Old English ban ‘bone’. In northern Middle English -a- was preserved, whereas in southern dialects (which later became standard), it was changed to -o-. Northern English: nickname for a hospitable person, from northern Middle English beyn, bayn ‘welcoming’, ‘friendly’ (Old Norse beinn ‘straight’, ‘direct’).
English and French: metonymic occupational name for an attendant at a public bath house, from Middle English, Old French baine ‘bath’. French: topographic name for someone who lived by a Roman bath, from Old French baine ‘bath’ or a habitational name from a place in Ille-et-Vilaine, named with this word.
Possibly an altered spelling of North German Behn.
From the Gaelic 'ban' - the fair. In 1324 Thomas Ban was a burgess in Perth. The Bains are descended from Neil, brother of Angus Dubh, Chief of the Mackay clan in the 15th Century.
THE FIRST BAIN
John Bain Mackay, son of Neil Neilson Mackay, was born 1408 in Strathnaver, Scotland, and became the progenitor of the families Bane, Bene, Bain and Bayne by dropping his real surname, Mackay, and using Bain as a surname. After the battle of Drum-Nan-Coup, Angus Dubh Mackays were resentful over the activities of Angus Moray of Cubin and their cousins, Morgan and Neil Mackay, whom he had duped for the benefit of the bitter enemies, the Sutherlands. The mother of John Bain Mackay had to be taken away from such unpleasant conditions, so her son John took her to Olrig, in Caithness-shire in 1435, where they received a friendly welcome due to the knowledge that their troubles had been inspired by the Sutherland Clan. John married in 1436 and died in 1452, leaving issue - four sons:
JOHN BAIN: born 1437, progenitor of the Bain families in Caithness and Haddingtonshire. WILLIAM BAIN: born 1438, progenitor of the Bain families of Clyth. ALEXANDER BAIN: born 1440, progenitor of the Baynes of Tulloch and Dingwall. DONALD BAIN: born 1443, settled in Galloway.
The descendants of John Bain Mackay are often referred to as the “Clan Bain” as there are references to a Chief of the “Caithness Bains”. William Bain, born 1494. Second son of John Bain, born 1437 and grandson of John Bain Mackay, born 1408, had two sons, William II and Alexander I , who had a son Duncan, who had a son Alexander II. He was “The Chief of the Caithness Bain Clan” who was sent by the Earl of Caithness to witness the dismissal of the Earl of Sutherlands’ army in 1601.
The spelling of the surname BAIN was first used with the birth of Donald Bain, born 1616, son of John Bane, born 1594. Prior to 1616, the surname was BANE, after 1616, the surname used was spelled BAIN by all lines in Caithness, Clyth, Dochcarty, Haddintonshire, Knochbain and Tarradale. The only group to differ was the small groups in Tulloch in Ross-shire near Dingwall, who used BANE also until 1709, when Kenneth Bane was made Burgess (Mayor) of Dingwall in 1709, changed the spelling to BAYNE for the Tulloch group only. The Baynes of Tulloch are of the same lineage as all Bains as their progenitor was Alexander Bane Mackay, born 1440 the third son of John Bane Mackay, the progenitor of the Bain Clan. This will clarify any confusion caused by spelling changes, which might suggest the Baynes of Tulloch are not of the same ilk. From the very first, there was a tendency to separate and spread out. Many Bains went to Thurso, Wick, Canisbay, Aberlour, Dingwall and Inverness. At all times they strove to remain in the Highlands. This tendency was aggravated in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by such conditions as overseas wars, the Sheep Clearances, the deer forests required by the Lords, and emigration.
The Bain families as a whole have maintained a record of faithful, honourable and distinguished service in many parts of the world, and in many spheres of activities. They seemed to have excelled in many professional vocations, such as medicine, business, teaching, ministry, promotion and founders of new towns in Canada and the United States.
As a Sept of the Clan Mackay, the Bains use the Tartan, the motto and the “Strap and Buckle” badge of the Clan Mackay.
Although the greatest concentration of Bains anywhere still remains in Caithness, Scotland, there are probably some Bain groups wherever the English language is spoken. Also, the children of the Gai’l, the Highlanders, bold and valient, whose inherent love of freedom, courage and integrity, have contributed much to the strong character of Canada, and other countries, where they emigrated to many years ago.
other possible versions of this surname
sources
- Clan Mackay Association of Canada