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Clan MacBain (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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MacBain / McBain / MacBean

Gaelic Name: MacBheathain

Clan Crest: A grey demi-cat-a-mountain salient, on his sinister foreleg a Highland targe Gules

Clan Motto: Touch Not A Catt Bot A Targe

Origin of Name: Son of Beatham

Clan Badge: Red whortleberry or Boxwood

Lands: Dores, Inverness-shire

Clan Chief: James McBain of McBain

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MacBain Clan History

There are several Gaelic origins for this name, but the most likely is bheathain, which means "the lively one." This could also have been spelled Mac ic Bheatha, which means MacBeth, a significant name in early Scottish history. When King Malcolm II of Scotland deposed the MacBeth line, his power was constantly tested by the powerful Scottish noble families of Moray. Various family members sought refuge in other parts of the kingdom. The MacBains, according to legend, sought out his kin among the descendants of Gillichatten Mor, also known as the Chattan Confederation.

The name in its modern form first appeared in an old Kinrara manuscript from the mid-14th century, which names both Bean Macmilmhor and his son, Milmor MacBean.

During the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, the Clan MacBain backed King Robert the Bruce. The MacBains are credited with assassinating John the Red Comyn, Bruce's rival for the throne. Chief of Clan Cumming/Comyn, John the Red Comyn was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce himself in 1306 at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries.

During a period of peace between the Clan MacKenzie and Clan Munro, a fight broke out at a fair in logiebride, nearly igniting the entire county of Ross-shire. John Macgillichallum (brother of the Laird of Raasay) and Alexander Bane (brother of Duncan Bane of Tulloch) started the fight. The Munros supported Alexander Bane, while the MacKenzies supported John Macgillichallum. John Macgllicham, John Mac-Murdo Mac-William, and three other Clan MacKenzie members were assassinated. Alexander Bane was able to flee, but three of his companions were killed: John Munro of Culcraggie, his brother Hutcheon Munro, and John Munro Robertson. Clans MacKenzie and Munro then began assisting each other in their invasion preparations. However, nothing came of it, and the peace was restored.

Paul MacBean, the clan's 12th chief, was deeply in debt and was forced to relinquish his lands in 1685. The loss of the Kinchyle lands must have been devastating, but the current chief has worked hard to reclaim some of the Clan MacBain clan lands and establish a MacBain memorial park on the slopes of Loch Ness.

Clan MacBain supported the 1715 Jacobite uprisings. Following Stuart's defeat, many of the MacBains were captured and transported to plantations in Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina.

The Clan MacBain also supported the Jacobites during the 1745–1746 uprisings, and many of them fought at the Battle of Culloden. During the battle, Gillies MacBean, a man said to be at least 6ft 4ins tall, cut down 13 to 14 of his adversaries until he was mortally wounded. According to legend, a government officer attempted to summon his men to save MacBean, but he was already dead. It was a MacBain who helped the injured Chief of Clan Cameron of Lochiel, who was unable to walk, escape to safety. Clan MacMillan, on the other hand, claims to have carried Lochiel off the battlefield at Culloden. The chief struggled to keep the remaining clan lands together after Culloden, and they were eventually sold in 1760.

In 1881, a MacBain led the Gordon Highlanders regiment against the South African Boers.

The current chiefly line descends from Paul MacBean, the 12th chief during the 17th century, with the elder line ending in a daughter, Elizabeth Margaret MacBean, who married Dougald Stuart around 1790 but died without issue. The current chief has carried on the work of his father, who reclaimed some clan lands and established the Macbain memorial park on the outskirts of Loch Ness.

MacBain Places & People

People of Clan MacBean

Shakespeare's Macbeth (c.1005-57)

When Duncan I ascended to the Scottish throne, his grandfather had the blood of several relatives on his hands, having murdered several relatives to clear the way for Duncan.

Duncan would have been wise to appease his remaining family, particularly his senior cousin Thorfinn the Mighty, Earl of Ornkey, his uncle, MacBeth, and the person closest to the throne, Queen Gruoch, MacBeth's wife.

However, by 1040, he had been murdered, and the throne had passed to MacBeth. MacBeth, whose name means "Son of Life," ruled over Scotland during a time of peace and prosperity. Malcolm III (Canmore) ended his reign by first invading with an army from England in 1054, then returning with them to kill MacBeth at Lumphanan in 1057.

MacBain Tartans

MacBean Contemporary

Ancient Macbeth

Modernized Macbeth

MacBain Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacBain / MacBean Crest:

Crest: A grey demi-cat-a-mountain salient, a Highland targe Gules on his sinister foreleg.

Coats of Arms: MacBean - MacBain

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.

MacBAIN (Macbain)

Quarterly, the first, Or, a lion rampant, Gules (for MacDuff); the second, Argent, a dexter hand couped, in pale, Gules; the third, Argent, a sword, in pale, Proper; and the fourth, Or, a lymphad, Azure, sails furled, Proper, oars in saltire, Gules, and flagged, of the last (for Clan Chattan).