Explore the Family Name Bain
The meaning of Bain
1. 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 1324. 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. 2. English (northern) and Scottish: nickname for a hospitable person, from northern Middle English beyn, bayn ‘welcoming, friendly’ (Old Norse beinn ‘straight, direct’). 3. 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-. 4. 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’. History: George Luke Scobie Bain (1836–91) was born in Stirling, Scotland. He ran away to sea and successively lived and worked in Portland, ME, Chicago, and St. Louis, where he was a miller and flour merchant and a very prominent citizen.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bain in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bain saw a slight decrease in popularity ranking from 1965 in 2000 to 2082 in 2010, a change of -5.95%. However, the count of individuals with this surname increased by 3.12%, indicating that more people bore this name in 2010 than in 2000. Despite the growth in numbers, the proportion per 100,000 decreased slightly by -5.61%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,965 | #2,082 | -5.95% |
| Count | 16,845 | 17,371 | 3.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 6.24 | 5.89 | -5.61% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bain
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native all saw increases. The largest increase was seen among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, with a jump of 66.15%. The smallest increase was amongst those claiming two or more races, at 14.02%. Conversely, those identifying as White experienced a decrease of -3.39% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.56% | 84.59% | -3.39% |
| Black | 7.82% | 9.08% | 16.11% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 2.37% | 50.96% |
| Two or More Races | 1.64% | 1.87% | 14.02% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.65% | 1.08% | 66.15% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.77% | 1.02% | 32.47% |
Bain ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Bain is British & Irish, which comprises 56.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.0%) and Eastern European (4.0%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Nigerian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 56.2% |
| French & German | 20.0% |
| Eastern European | 4.0% |
| Other | 19.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Bain
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Bain have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.40% |
What Bain haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Bain is R-L21, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L21 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-FGC36536 and R-S744, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Christie, Thomson, Barron, Davidson, Black, Mckay, Thompson, Smith, Griffin, Fraser.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Bain surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Bain have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Bain" Surname 42.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Bain" Surname 23.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Bain" Surname 22.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Bain" Surname 14.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Bain?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Bain are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition