Contents [hide]

Main History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Main History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The origin of the name is the southern German form "Meinhardt," which is a compound of "strength" (Mein) and "bravery" (Hardt).

Early Origins of the Main family

The surname Main was first found in Pomerania, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. Chronicles first mention Meyne Meynen of Barth in Pomerania in 1415, and Heinrich Meyneking of Hanover in 1311. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Main family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Main research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1350, 1704, 1727, 1775, 1797 and 1851 are included under the topic Early Main History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Main Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meinecke, Meincke, Meinke, Meineken, Meineking, Meinhard, Meinhold, Meininger, Meinart, Meinert, Meinhardt, Mein, Meine, Meinen, Meins, Meiner, Main, Mains, Mainer and many more.

Early Notables of the Main family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Main Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Main Ranking

In the United States, the name Main is the 2,342^nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name Main is ranked the 717^th most popular surname with an estimated 997 people with that name. 2

Main migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Main Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Main, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1699 3

Main Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Main, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 3
Captain Main, who settled in Boston in 1768

Main Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Main, who landed in America in 1806 3
Alexander Main, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1812 3
Elizabeth Main, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1831 3
Jessie Main, who arrived in New York in 1837 3
Margaret Main, who arrived in New York in 1837 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Main migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Main Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Pierre Main, aged 22, who arrived in Montreal in 1714
James Main, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
James Main, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Thomas Main, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Andrew Main, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1773
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Main Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Main, who arrived in Canada in 1832
George B Main, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Main migration to Australia +

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

Main Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Main, (b. 1817), aged 17, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he is listed as hung in 1839 4
Miss Margaret Main, (Gillies), Scottish Convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Atwick" on 28 September 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
W. Main, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1839 6
William Main, aged 27, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Nugget" 7
James Main, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Main 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:

Main Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Clara Main, (b. 1855), aged Infant, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd July 1856 8
Mr. Robert Main, (b. 1807), aged 44, English settler born in Norfolk travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd July 1856 8
Miss Sarah Main, (b. 1836), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd July 1856 8
Miss Harriett Main, (b. 1840), aged 16, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd July 1856 8
Miss Susan Elizabeth Main, (b. 1842), aged 13, English settler born in Norfolk travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd July 1856 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Main migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9

Main Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Andrew Main, his wife and child, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Main (post 1700) +

Frank Main, American co-winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting
Verner Wright Main (1885-1965), American politician, U.S. Representative from Michigan (1935-1937)
Marjorie Main (1890-1975), American actress
Doris E. Main, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 17th District, 1968 10
Claude E. Main, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Kansas 7th District, 1940 10
Charles W. Main, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1924, 1936 (alternate), 1940 (alternate), 1948 (alternate) 10
Calvin R. Main, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ledyard; Elected 1934 10
Appleton Main, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Preston, 1908 10
Andrew E. Main, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Cornwall, 1902 10
Amasa W. Main, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from North Stonington, 1895-98 10
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Main family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Louise Main (1842-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11

HMS Royal Oak

Henry W. Main, British Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 12

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atwick
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) FAIRFIELD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Fairfield.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 4th July 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
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