Surname MacMains - Meaning and Origin

MacMains: What does the surname MacMains mean?

The last name MacMains is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhanain", which means "son of Mannan". Mannan is a name that possibly comes from "mana", a Gaelic word referring to a monk. Therefore, MacMains may refer to "son of the monk". The MacMains surname is commonly found among Scottish clans, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. Like many other surnames of Gaelic origin, the spelling and pronunciation of MacMains have changed over centuries and it appears in various forms, such as MacMain, MacMane, MacMann, and others. Contrary to some beliefs, the MacMains surname does not signify any particular rank or status in ancient Scottish society; rather it is primarily an identifier of family lineage.

MacMains: Where does the name MacMains come from?

The last name MacMains is of Scottish origin. It's derived from the Gaelic Mac Mhanain, meaning "son of Manan". Manan is a personal name, likely tied to an early progenitor of those who carry the surname. The name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including McMenamin, McManamin, McMenamie, McMenemie, McMenigle, McMonigle, and others.

Scottish surnames became a tradition relatively late compared to other European nations, and many of these surnames were influenced by local geographical features from where the initial bearer lived or held land. This means that individual bearers of the surname from the same or closely related branches may have different last names.

Today, MacMains, like many other Scottish surnames, is found in countries across the globe, reflecting the patterns of Scottish emigration over the centuries. It is not an incredibly common surname anywhere, but it is most likely to be found in Scotland and countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, which saw substantial Scottish immigration.

Variations of the surname MacMains

The surname MacMains, like many Gaelic-origin surnames, may have multiple spellings or variants and even similar surnames due to its origin or translation over time. The primary spelling is MacMains, but other phonetically similar spelling variations may include: MacMain, MacMaine, MacManus, MacManes, McMains, McMain, McMaine, McManus, McManes, etc.

This surname MacMains is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Maghnuis, which means 'son of Magnus'. The name Magnus was popular in Norway and was brought to Ireland by the Vikings. Over the years, the spelling and pronunciation of this Gaelic surname have shifted to MacMains and other variants, particularly in Scotland and across the Irish diaspora.

Variations of the name may also appear as Anglicized forms without the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix, such as Main, Mains, Maine, Manes, Manus etc. For example, in Northern Ireland it could be written as McManus.

However, spellings could greatly differ in different geographical areas due to pronunciation and regional dialects, therefore it’s essential to trace specific genealogical records for accurate origins of names. MacMains and its variants may also have connections to separate clans in Scotland or Ireland.

Famous people with the name MacMains

• Mark MacMains: American sculptor and painter
• Marc MacMains: French-American film producer
• Leila MacMains: American actor
• Brent MacMains: Canadian ice hockey player
• Sonja MacMains: American writer
• Ben MacMains: American architect
• Julian MacMains: French-American artist
• Andrew MacMains: Scottish golfer
• Alex MacMains: Welsh rugby union footballer
• Matthew MacMains: Canadian ice hockey player
• Mason MacMains: American basketball player
• Adam MacMains: American entrepreneur
• Stephen MacMains: Irish cricketer
• Conor MacMains: British rugby union player
• Melissa MacMains: American TV personality
• Gregory MacMains: American lawyer
• Ryan MacMains: American basketball player
• Sean MacMains: Australian footballer
• Christopher MacMains: American guitarist
• Kyle MacMains: English footballer

Other surnames

MacMain