Cain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland-Alt 
  Ireland 
  England 


Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Cain originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Cathain.

Early Origins of the Cain family

The surname Cain was first found in Derry, where the name literally meant 'Cathan's Son.' "This name may be rendered 'warrior'(cath, 'a battle'). The O'Cathains, now O'Kanes, were of the race of Eoghan, who was son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Monarch of Ireland, who died A.D. 406." 1

Saint Cainner or Cannera (d. 530?), appears in the martyrology of Tamlacht and other ancient lists of Irish saints on 28 Jan. "According to Colgan, she was born of noble parents in the district of Bentraighe (Bantry) in South Munster. " 2

We would be remiss if we did not mention the English and Welsh origins of the name. In England, Yorkshire was a popular location for the family. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes Cayne, Kirkby Overblow; and Johannes Cayne, Knaresborough. 3

"Mauritius de Cadomo held lands in Barony, Devonshire, in 1083. William de Cadomo occurs in Norfolk, Walter de Cadomo in Norfolk, holding great estates, 1086. Renebald de Caen occurs in 1130 (Rot. Pip.). The family of De Caen, Caan, &c., is often mentioned later. In Normandy it occurs in the 12th cent. very frequently." 4

In Wales, "Rhys Cain (16th cent.), was a Welsh poet of the latter part of the sixteenth century, born at Trawsfynydd in Merionethshire, a village on the river Cain, whence he took his surname." 2

Early History of the Cain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cain research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1196 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Cain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cain Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name Cain were encountered in the archives: Cain, Caine, Kane, Kain, Cahan, O'Cahan, Kean, Keane, O'Keane, Ceane, Cean, Kahan, O'Kean, O'Kane, O'Kaine, Kaine, Keann, Cainn, Cainne, Kainn, Cahann, O'Cain and many more.

Early Notables of the Cain family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cain World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cain is the 486th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Cain is ranked the 682nd most popular surname with an estimated 5,754 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Cain is the 840th popular surname with an estimated 8,069 people with that name. 7


Cain migration to the United States +

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Cain family came to North America quite early:

Cain Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Cain Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Cain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Cain migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cain Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Cain Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Cain migration to Australia +

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

Cain Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Cain 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:

Cain Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Cain (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Cain +
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