Contents [hide]

McBain History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McBain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The chronicle of the name McBain begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived 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 McBain family

The surname McBain 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 McBain family

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

McBain Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. McBain has been written Bean, Beane, Beyn, Bayn, Bene, Bane, Baine, Beine, Bayne, Beyne, Been, Beaine, MacBain, MacBean, MacVain, MacBean, MacVan and many more.

Early Notables of the McBain family

More information is included under the topic Early McBain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McBain family to Ireland

Some of the McBain 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.

McBain migration to the United States +

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of McBain:

McBain Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Archibald A M B McBain, who landed in Georgia in 1739 2
Alexander McBain, who arrived in Virginia in 1776 2
Angus McBain, who arrived in Virginia in 1776 2

McBain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alice McBain, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1854 2

McBain Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alex McBain, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Calrach, in 1904
Alexander McBain, aged 24, who settled in America from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1904
David McBain, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Aberdeen, in 1904
Frank McBain, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Glasgow, in 1905
Charles J. McBain, aged 29, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McBain migration to Australia +

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

McBain Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Jane McBain, (b. 1822), aged 19, Irish house servant from Armagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 3
Benjamin Mcbain, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 4
Ann McBain, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Hercules" 5
Catherine McBain, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Hercules" 5
Donald McBain, aged 46, a farmer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Olivia" 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McBain 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:

McBain Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Katherine McBain, aged 22, a housemaid, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
Mr. Francis McBain, (b. 1837), aged 40, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 7
Mrs. Mrs McBain, (b. 1841), aged 36, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 7
Mr. John McBain, (b. 1859), aged 18, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 7
Mr. Charles McBain, (b. 1861), aged 16, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McBain (post 1700) +

Diane J. McBain (1941-2022), American actress from Cleveland, Ohio, best known for playing an adventurous socialite in the 1960–1962 television series Surfside 6 and as one of Elvis Presley's leading ladies in 1966's Spinout
John Paul McBain (b. 1965), American guitarist
Ed McBain (1926-2005), pen name of Evan Hunter, American author
Howard Lee McBain, American (Canadian born) political scientist
William McBain, American politician, Mayor of Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1926-48 8
John McBain, American politician, Mayor of Santa Cruz, California, 1963-64 8
John McBain, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County 3rd District, 1937, 1939-44, 1947-48; Defeated, 1937, 1944, 1948 8
Daniel McBain, American politician, Mayor of Toledo, Ohio in 1852 8
Douglas "Dougie" M. McBain (1924-2008), Scottish footballer
Neil McBain (1895-1974), Scottish professional footballer and football manager
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McBain family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Joseph Henry McBain (1897-1941), Australian Chief Engine Room Artificer from Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 9

HMS Royal Oak

Donald McBain (1918-1939), British Cook (S) with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 10

The McBain 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.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=254
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 27 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HMS Hercules 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hercules1853.shtml
South Australian Register Tuesday 15 November 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Olivia 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/olivia1853.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
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