Bain Family History

Scottish Manx and Irish: nickname for a fair-haired man from Gaelic bàn Irish bán ‘white fair’. This surname is common in the Highlands first recorded in Perth in 132. It is also found as a shortened form of McBain from Mac B(h)eathain. As a Manx name (spelled Bane) this may be a shortened form of Manx Macguilley Vane equivalent to Irish Mac Giolla Bháin ‘son of the fair youth’. Compare Irish Kilbane.

English (northern) and Scottish: nickname for a hospitable person from northern Middle English beyn bayn ‘welcoming friendly’ (Old Norse beinn ‘straight direct’). English (northern) and Scottish: nickname from northern Middle English bān bain ‘bone leg’ (Old English bān Old Norse bein) perhaps denoting someone with a gammy leg.

In northern Middle English -ā- was preserved whereas in southern dialects (which later became standard) it was changed to -ō-. French: habitational name from (Le) Bain the name of several places in various parts of France e.g. in Ille-et-Vilaine named with Old French baine ‘bath’.