Septs of Clan Bain

Bain (and Variants: Bane, Bayne, Bene) Surname Origin & Association: Bain is derived from the Gaelic nickname Bàn, meaning “fair” or “fair-haired.” The name became a hereditary surname through John “Bàn” Mackay, son of Neil Neilson Mackay, in the 15th century. He later dropped the Mackay name and adopted Bain as a new surname.

Historical Context: Following a feud within Clan Mackay and the Battle of Drumnacoub (c.1433), John Bain moved to Caithness and later settled branches in Ross-shire. His third son, Alexander, became the progenitor of the Bains of Tulloch. Tulloch Castle near Dingwall became their seat from the 16th to 18th centuries. The family line sold the estate in 1762 and merged into other clans by marriage, but the Bain/Bayne name remains widely recognized.

MacKay (and Variant: Mackay) Surname Origin & Association: MacKay, from the Gaelic MacAoidh meaning “son of Aodh (Hugh),” is the parent clan of the Bains. John Bain was originally a Mackay by birth.

Historical Context: John “Bain” Mackay’s separation from the main Mackay line led to the formation of the Bain family. Despite forming their own identity, the Bains are often acknowledged as a cadet branch of Clan Mackay and are listed as septs of Mackay.

MacBean (and Variants: MacBain, McBean, Bean) Surname Origin & Association: MacBean is derived from the Gaelic MacBheathain, meaning “son of Beathán.” Though sometimes confused with Bain due to similar spelling, the two names have different origins.

Historical Context: Clan MacBean is part of the Clan Chattan confederation and is unrelated to the Bains of Tulloch. Some later social links occurred through marriage (e.g., the Davidsons acquiring Tulloch Castle), but Bain and MacBean remain distinct clans.

References

Scots Connection. (n.d.). Bain Clan History. Retrieved from https://www.scotsconnection.com/clan_crests/bain.htm

ScotClans. (n.d.). Clan Bain History. Retrieved from https://www.scotclans.com/blogs/clans-a2/clan-bain-history

ScotClans. (n.d.). MacKay Clan History. Retrieved from https://www.scotclans.com/blogs/macg/mackay-clan-history

Clan MacBean Association. (2025). Clan History – Clan MacBean. Retrieved from https://clanmacbean.org/clan-history

Wikipedia. (2025). Bain of Tulloch. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_of_Tulloch

Wikipedia. (2025). Clan MacBean. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_MacBean

Mackay, E. (Ed.). (1898). Minor Septs of Clan Chattan. Inverness: A. & W. Mackenzie.