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Mains History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Mains 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 Mains family

The surname Mains 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 Mains family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mains 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 Mains History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mains 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 Mains family

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

Mains Ranking

In the United States, the name Mains is the 11,829^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Mains migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mains Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Mains, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 2
Peter Mains, aged 25, who arrived in America in 1822 2

Mains migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mains Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Andrew Mains, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773

Mains Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Mains, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
Margaret Mains, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
William Mains, aged ?, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
Daniel Mains, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833

Mains migration to Australia +

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

Mains Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Mains, aged 42, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Mains (post 1700) +

Gilbert Lee "Gil" Mains (1929-2009), American AFL football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions (1953 to 1961)
James Royal Mains (1922-1969), American Major League Baseball pitcher
Willard Eben Mains (1868-1923), American National League Baseball pitcher
Gil Mains (1930-2009), American football player
William C. Mains (1869-1909), American Republican politician, crusader against saloons in Mt. Vernon, New York; Member of New York State Assembly from Westchester County 1st District, 1901 4
W. Lee Mains, American politician, Mayor of Billings, Montana, 1919-21 4
Robert Mains Jr., American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 14th District, 1902, 1903, 1904 4
Doug Mains, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 14th District, 1996 4
Geoffrey Mains (1934-2021), English cricketer for Gloucestershire (1951-1954)
Johnny Mains (b. 1976), Scottish editor and writer of horror fiction
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
South Australian Register Friday 29 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marshall Bennett 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marshallbennett1853.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html