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Show ContentsBain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The history of the ancestors of the Bain family begins among the Pictish clans ancient Scotland. The name Bain comes from the Gaelic word Beathan or betha which means life. Bean was also the name of a saint in the Breviary of Aberdeen.

Early Origins of the Bain family

The surname Bain was first found in Aberdeen (part of the modern Grampian region), where one of the first times the name arose was a Bean who was a magistrate circa 1210. It is known, however, that the MacBains moved to Invernessshire, as sod bearers to the Chiefs of the great Clan Chattan (a powerful confederation of early Clans). The name literally means "son of the fair lad," and was frequently translated to MacBean (Bain.)

Saint Bean or Beyn (fl. 1011), was, according to Fordun, appointed first bishop of Murthlach by Malclom II, at the instance of Pope Benedict VIII. A fragment of the charter of Malcolm II (1003-1029?), preserved in the register of the diocese of Aberdeen confirms this claim. 1 However, St. Bean is distinctly referred to as a native of Ireland: 'In Hybernia natalis Beani primi episcopi Aberdonensis et confessoris'. 1

Early History of the Bain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bain research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1411, 1550 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Bain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bain Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name Bain include Bean, Beane, Beyn, Bayn, Bene, Bane, Baine, Beine, Bayne, Beyne, Been, Beaine, MacBain, MacBean, MacVain, MacBean, MacVan and many more.

Early Notables of the Bain family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • Gillie MacBean and The Bain of Tulloch

Bain World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bain is the 1,842nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Bain is ranked the 695th most popular surname with an estimated 5,643 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Bain is the 394th popular surname with an estimated 1,660 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Bain as 781st with 8,680 people. 5

Ireland Migration of the Bain family to Ireland

Some of the Bain family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Bain migration to the United States +

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Bain:

Bain Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander Bain who settled in Maryland in 1774
  • James Bain who settled in New York in 1774
  • Mathew Bain, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1774 6
  • William Bain, aged 26, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1775 6
  • Andrew Bain, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1775 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert E Bain, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 6
  • Edward Bain, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1854 6
  • Henry Bain, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1867 6
  • Thomas Bain, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 6
  • Alexander Bain, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Bain migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bain Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Bain, aged 10, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • George Bain, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
  • Walter Bain, who arrived in Canada in 1821
  • William Bain, aged 27, a blacksmith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
  • Ann Bain, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Bain migration to Australia +

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

Bain Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Bain, (b. 1813), aged 15, Scottish weaver who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 14 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1887 7
  • Mr. John Bain, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. Michael Bain, (b. 1808), aged 30, Scottish soldier from Stirling who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for desertion from the army, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th May 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Miss Elizabeth Bain, (b. 1823), aged 15, Cornish servant, from Fowey, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Portland" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 18th December 1838 10
  • Robert Bain, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Bain migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bain Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Watson Bain, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Watson Bain, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brilliant" in 1841
  • Anne Bain, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brilliant" in 1841
  • James Bain, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brilliant" in 1841
  • Mr. Bain, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lalla Rookh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th April 1849 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bain (post 1700) +

  • William Worthington "Bill" Bain Jr. (1937-2018), American management consultant, founder of Bain & Company in 1973, now with 55 locations and over 8,000 employees
  • Donald Sutherland Bain (1935-2017), American author and ghostwriter who wrote over 115 books, perhaps best known for his Coffee, Tea or Me? series
  • Roderick Bain (1922-2014), American non-commissioned officer in the Second Platoon of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division, United States Army during WWII
  • Conrad Stafford Bain (1923-2013), Canadian-born, American actor, best known for his leading role in Diff'rent Strokes and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude
  • Edgar C. Bain (1891-1971), American metallurgist
  • Barbara Bain (b. 1931), born Millicent Fogel, American actress, probably best known for her role on Mission: Impossible (1966 to 1969)
  • Addison Bain, retired NASA scientist and hydrogen expert
  • George Grantham Bain (1865-1944), New Yorker news photographer
  • Don Bain, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Colorado, 1996 13
  • Charles R. Bain, American Republican politician, Chair of Berkeley County Republican Party, 1969, 1973-75; Presidential Elector for West Virginia, 1972 13
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. William John Bain (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 14
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Donald Bain, British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 15
HMS Royal Oak
  • Robert Bain (1921-1939), born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Scottish Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 16
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Duncan Campbell Bain, English Waiter from Patrick, Lanark, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17

The Bain Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Touch not the catt bot a targe
Motto Translation: Touch not the cat without a shield.

Suggested Readings for the name Bain +

  • The Life and Ancestry (including the Bain Family) of John Thistlehwaite Baynes 1833-1891 by Richard C. Baynes.
  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. 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)
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LLOYDS from London 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Lloyds.htm
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  15. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  16. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  17. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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