Clan Bain are not part of the Scottish Clan MacBean (McBain). They are a branch or sept of the Clan Mackay, another Highland Scottish clan. The progenitor of this family was John Bain Mackay, otherwise known as John Bàn (Bàn is Gaelic for 'fair' as in fair-haired)'. John was the son of Neil Neilson Mackay, great-grandson of Donald Mackay (died 1370), chief of Clan Mackay.
John Bain Mackay dropped his surname and used his middle name of Bain as a surname instead. This may have been due to a feud within the Clan Mackay involving his father Neil Neilson Mackay that had resulted in the Battle of Drumnacoub in 1427 or 1433. Due to this conflict John Bain not only dropped the surname of Mackay but moved from his homeland in the west of the county of Sutherland to the neighboring county of Caithness.
In 1597 the Bain family of Tulloch Castle fought in the Battle of Logiebride against the Mackenzies.
Clan Bain Badge, Scottish Highland Clan, Sept of MacKay
Each item begins as a piece of bronze sheet metal. After a pattern is transferred to the metal, the piece is etched in a salt-water solution. Each piece is hand cut, sanded, and polished. The pin back is soldered on. A patina has been applied giving the metal that aged look. A clear polymer coating is applied to the face of the badge.