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Surname Etymology and Meaning of MAINS

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Name meanings and etymologies are often disputed. The information here is compiled from freely available sources, and no claims whatsoever are made for accuracy, either historical or etymological.

1. Scottish and northern English: topographic name for a dweller at the chief farm (or home farm) on an estate, Scottish mains, or a habitational name from any of the various minor places named with this word (originally a shortened form of domain, later associated with the adjective main ‘principal’).
2. English and Scottish: variant of Main 1–4.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names (2003)