John Bane MacKay

MOTTO - "Both by valour and skill"

Bain, Bayne

From the Gaelic 'ban' - the fair. In 1324 Thomas Ban was a burgess in Perth. The Bains are descended from Neil, brother of Angus Dubh, Chief of the Mackay clan in the 15th Century.

THE FIRST BAIN

John Bain Mackay, son of Neil Neilson Mackay, was born 1408 in Strathnaver, Scotland, and became the progenitor of the families Bane, Bene, Bain and Bayne by dropping his real surname, Mackay, and using Bain as a surname. After the battle of Drum-Nan-Coup, Angus Dubh Mackays were resentful over the activities of Angus Moray of Cubin and their cousins, Morgan and Neil Mackay, whom he had duped for the benefit of the bitter enemies, the Sutherlands.

The mother of John Bain Mackay had to be taken away from such unpleasant conditions, so her son John took her to Olrig, in Caithness-shire in 1435, where they received a friendly welcome due to the knowledge that their troubles had been inspired by the Sutherland Clan. John married in 1436 and died in 1452, leaving issue - four sons:

JOHN BAIN: born 1437, progenitor of the Bain families in Caithness and Haddingtonshire.

WILLIAM BAIN: born 1438, progenitor of the Bain families of Clyth.

ALEXANDER BAIN: born 1440, progenitor of the Baynes of Tulloch and Dingwall.

DONALD BAIN: born 1443, settled in Galloway.

The descendants of John Bain Mackay are often referred to as the “Clan Bain” as there are references to a Chief of the “Caithness Bains”.

William Bain, born 1494. Second son of John Bain, born 1437 and grandson of John Bain Mackay, born 1408, had two sons, William II and Alexander I , who had a son Duncan, who had a son Alexander II. He was “The Chief of the Caithness Bain Clan” who was sent by the Earl of Caithness to witness the dismissal of the Earl of Sutherlands’ army in 1601.

The spelling of the surname BAIN was first used with the birth of Donald Bain, born 1616, son of John Bane, born 1594. Prior to 1616, the surname was BANE, after 1616, the surname used was spelled BAIN by all lines in Caithness, Clyth, Dochcarty, Haddintonshire, Knochbain and Tarradale. The only group to differ was the small groups in Tulloch in Ross-shire near Dingwall, who used BANE also until 1709, when Kenneth Bane was made Burgess (Mayor) of Dingwall in 1709, changed the spelling to BAYNE for the Tulloch group only. The Baynes of Tulloch are of the same lineage as all Bains as their progenitor was Alexander Bane Mackay, born 1440 the third son of John Bane Mackay, the progenitor of the Bain Clan. This will clarify any confusion caused by spelling changes, which might suggest the Baynes of Tulloch are not of the same ilk. From the very first, there was a tendency to separate and spread out. Many Bains went to Thurso, Wick, Canisbay, Aberlour, Dingwall and Inverness. At all times they strove to remain in the Highlands. This tendency was aggravated in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by such conditions as overseas wars, the Sheep Clearances, the deer forests required by the Lords, and emigration.

The Bain families as a whole have maintained a record of faithful, honourable and distinguished service in many parts of the world, and in many spheres of activities. They seemed to have excelled in many professional vocations, such as medicine, business, teaching, ministry, promotion and founders of new towns in Canada and the United States.

As a Sept of the Clan Mackay, the Bains use the Tartan, the motto and the “Strap and Buckle” badge of the Clan Mackay.

Although the greatest concentration of Bains anywhere still remains in Caithness, Scotland, there are probably some Bain groups wherever the English language is spoken. Also, the children of the Gai’l, the Highlanders, bold and valient, whose inherent love of freedom, courage and integrity, have contributed much to the strong character of Canada, and other countries, where they emigrated to many years ago.

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John Bain who settled in Caithness and became the progenitor of the Bains in that county ;. pg 50-51

THE BOOK OF MACKAY BY ANGUS MACKAY, M.A. (St. Andrews University) Minister at Westerdale, Caithness EDINBURGH : NORMAN MACLEOD, -25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE CANADA : EDWARD MACKAY, ST. PETER'S MANSE, MADOC, ONT. M DCCCC VI

===========================

Neil Mackay, slain at Drimnacoub, says Sir Robert, had three sons,

• Angus,
• John Bain, and
• Paul.

John Bain, or fair, was ancestor of the Bains of Caithness, who multiplied, and held lands there for some centuries; and many of them retain the name to the present day, both in Caithness and the Reay country; only that in the latter district they are Bain alias Mackay; and such of them as leave the country, take the name Mackay alone.

Another branch of these Bains flourished long in Ross, and there were of the in Lairds and Knights of Tulloch, until they were in the last century succeeded by the Davidsons. HISTORY THE HOUSE AND CLAN MACKAY...;ROBERT MACKAY; 1829. pg. 73-74

This [Donald Mackay, of Skinit & Ribigill Donald] had three sons, 

• Angus, who succeeded him, and
  
• Hugh and
  
• Niel who fought the bloody battle of Tuttim-Tarwagh. Niel, the son of Donald, had three sons
  

• lst, Thomas Mackay of Spinnidale, Creigh, Pulrossie,&c. who was ancestor of the Shil-Thomas Mackays
  
• 2nd, Morgan ; and
  
• 3d, Niel. This Niel had three sons,
  

• 1st, Angus, of whom the Slighd-Angus Mackays descended;
  
• 2nd, John Bain or Fair, ancestor of the Bains or Baynes of Caithness, Ross, &c.; he has also been listed as a son of
  [Neil Mackay Niel-Wass Mackay }
• 3d Paul, ancestor of the Shil-Phaul or Macphauls, and Polsons. The branches, Shil-Thomas, Shil-Niel, Slighd-Angus, and Shil-Phaul, multiplied chiefly in Sutherland pg. 558 THE HOUSE AND CLAN MACKAY pg. 558
  

=============

Origin and meaning of Bain:

Origin: Ian Bheann Neilson (John Bain Mackay-Neilson) was given the nickname Bain to distinguish him from the other John Mackays. Bain is Gaelic for fair or handsome. Born at Creich in 1408 he, along with his mother, moved from there and settled in Olrig, Caithness by 1435.

Surnames: Bain, Baine, Bane, Bayn, Bayne, Bean, Beane

Submitted by: Alan Randle Bayne

<nowiki>------------------------------------------------</nowiki>

IGI Individual Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0

 British Isles 

* John Bain Mackay Pedigree

• Male
• Event(s):
• Birth: About 1426 Of, Creich, Sutherland, Scotland
• Christening:
• Death:
• Burial:
• Parents:
• Father: Neil Neilson Mackay Family
• Mother: Miss Moray

Source Information: 

Film Number:  1239535      

Page Number:  1356     

Reference number:  30474 

Iain Bàn MacAoidh or John “the fair” Mackay

THE FIRST BAIN John Bain Mackay, son of Neil Neilson Mackay, was born 1408 in Strathnaver, Scotland, and became the progenitor of the families Bane, Bene, Bain and Bayne by dropping his real surname, Mackay, and using Bain as a surname. After the battle of Drum-Nan-Coup, Angus Dubh Mackays were resentful over the activities of Angus Moray of Cubin and their cousins, Morgan and Neil Mackay, whom he had duped for the benefit of the bitter enemies, the Sutherlands. The mother of John Bain Mackay had to be taken away from such unpleasant conditions, so her son John took her to Olrig, in Caithness-shire in 1435, where they received a friendly welcome due to the knowledge that their troubles had been inspired by the Sutherland Clan. John married in 1436 and died in 1452, leaving issue - four sons:

JOHN BAIN: born 1437, progenitor of the Bain families in Caithness and Haddingtonshire.

WILLIAM BAIN: born 1438, progenitor of the Bain families of Clyth.

ALEXANDER BAIN: born 1440, progenitor of the Baynes of Tulloch and Dingwall.

DONALD BAIN: born 1443, settled in Galloway.

The descendants of John Bain Mackay are often referred to as the "Clan Bain" as there are references to a Chief of the "Caithness Bains". William Bain, born 1494. Second son of John Bain, born 1437 and grandson of John Bain Mackay, born 1408, had two sons, William II and Alexander I , who had a son Duncan, who had a son Alexander II. He was "The Chief of the Caithness Bain Clan" who was sent by the Earl of Caithness to witness the dismissal of the Earl of Sutherlands' army in 1601.

The spelling of the surname BAIN was first used with the birth of Donald Bain, born 1616, son of John Bane, born 1594. Prior to 1616, the surname was BANE, after 1616, the surname used was spelled BAIN by all lines in Caithness, Clyth, Dochcarty, Haddintonshire, Knochbain and Tarradale. The only group to differ was the small groups in Tulloch in Ross-shire near Dingwall, who used BANE also until 1709, when Kenneth Bane was made Burgess (Mayor) of Dingwall in 1709, changed the spelling to BAYNE for the Tulloch group only. The Baynes of Tulloch are of the same lineage as all Bains as their progenitor was Alexander Bane Mackay, born 1440 the third son of John Bane Mackay, the progenitor of the Bain Clan. This will clarify any confusion caused by spelling changes, which might suggest the Baynes of Tulloch are not of the same ilk. From the very first, there was a tendency to separate and spread out. Many Bains went to Thurso, Wick, Canisbay, Aberlour, Dingwall and Inverness. At all times they strove to remain in the Highlands. This tendency was aggravated in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by such conditions as overseas wars, the Sheep Clearances, the deer forests required by the Lords, and emigration.

The Bain families as a whole have maintained a record of faithful, honourable and distinguished service in many parts of the world, and in many spheres of activities. They seemed to have excelled in many professional vocations, such as medicine, business, teaching, ministry, promotion and founders of new towns in Canada and the United States.

As a Sept of the Clan Mackay, the Bains use the Tartan, the motto and the "Strap and Buckle" badge of the Clan Mackay. Although the greatest concentration of Bains anywhere still remains in Caithness, Scotland, there are probably some Bain groups wherever the English language is spoken. Also, the children of the Gai'l, the Highlanders, bold and valiant, whose inherent love of freedom, courage and integrity, have contributed much to the strong character of Canada, and other countries, where they emigrated to many years ago.