The surname of MEYN was a surname borne by many fishermen families at Nairn and neighbouring villages, is simply the Norse MAGNUS, and is probably a survival from the old Viking days in the Moray Firth. Some years ago there were thirty John Mains in the town of Nairn, and a tee-name had to be given each to distinguish them from one another. There are also many of the name in Aberdeenshire. In the southern counties the name is another spelling of Mayne. Early records of the name mention William Mane who was keeper of the guard of the king in 1477. James Main of Westerhouse was retoured in lands in 1699. The name has many variant spellings which include MAYN, MAYNE, MEINE, MEYNE, MEHN, MEHNE, MENN, MEENE, MEYE and MEENEN, to name but a few. The use of fixed surnames or descriptive names appears to have commenced in France about the year 1000, and such names were introduced into Scotland through the Normans a little over one hundred years later, although the custom of using them was by no means common for many years afterwards. During the reign of Malcolm Ceannmor (1057-1093) the latter directed his chief subjects, after the custom of other nations, to adopt surnames from their territorial possessions, and there created 'The first erlis that euir was in Scotland'. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour. Alba, the country which became Scotland, was once shared by four races; the Picts who controlled most of the land north of the Central Belt; the Britons, who had their capital at Dumbarton and held sway over the south west, including modern Cumbria; the Angles, who were Germanic in origin and annexed much of the Eastern Borders in the seventh century, and the Scots. The latter came to Alba from the north of Ireland late in the 5th century to establish a colony in present day Argyll, which they named Dalriada, after their homeland. The Latin name SCOTTI simply means a Gaelic speaker. |
