Maine

Maine
Recorded as Mane, Main, Maine, Mayne, and the patronymic or locational Mains, this very interesting surname can be English, Scottish, Dutch-Flemish, French, Scandanavian, or German in origin. However in almost all cases the derivation is from the Roman (Latin) word 'magnus' meaning strength. As such in pre medieval times it was usually given as a baptismal name of endearment, although later in the Middle Ages when surnames began to be formed from about the 12th century a.d., it was usually a nickname for a very strong man, or given the robust humour of the period, the reverse! However to add to the confusion the name can also be locational from the French province of Maine, whilst the Scottish name holders, the name is particularly popular in Aberdeenshire, are of Viking stock, possibly from Iceland where the spelling is Magnus. The name development includes the recordings of Adam de Meine of Somerset, England in 1205, although he was almost certainly from France, William Asmayns of Lincolnshire in 1255, and Richard le Mayne of Sussex in 1327. In Scotland the spelling was originally Mane, generally becoming Main or Mains in the 17th century. It is said that in the year 1895 there were over thirty men called John Mains in the town of Nairn. The coat of arms granted in 1685 has the blazon of a blue field, charged with a chevron voided in red, between two fleur de lis in chief and a unicorns head in base. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Main. This was dated 1204, in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, England. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Maine —   Maine …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • Maine — • Commonly known as the Pine Tree State, but is sometimes called the Star in the East Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Maine     Maine      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Maine — (Details) (Details) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • MAINE — MAINE, northernmost New England state, had an estimated Jewish population of 9,300 out of a total of 1,277,000 (0.7%) in 2001. More than 7,000 lived in the southern part of the State (in Portland, the largest city, Biddeford, Saco, Brunswick, and …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Maine — [meɪn ]; s: Bundesstaat der USA. * * * I Maine   [meɪn], Abkürzung Me., postamtlich ME, Bundesstaat im Nordosten der USA, an der Grenze zu Kanada, 91 653 km2, (1999) 1,253 Mio. Einwohner (1950: 913 800 Einwohner). Hauptstadt ist Augusta.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • mâine — MẤINE adv. În ziua care urmează celei de azi. ♢ loc. adj. De mâine = a) din ziua următoare celei de azi; b) din viitorul apropiat. ♢ expr. Pe mâine, formulă de salut la despărţire, indicând o reîntâlnire în ziua următoare. ♦ În viitorul apropiat; …   Dicționar Român

  • Maine — es uno de los estados que conforman los Estados Unidos y recibe su nombre de la provincia francesa de Maine. Se encuentra situado en la zona de Nueva Inglaterra, situada en el noreste de Estados Unidos; limita al norte y al este con la provincia… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • MAINE (H. J. S.) — MAINE sir HENRY JAMES SUMNER (1822 1888) Le nom de l’Anglais Henry Maine est associé à la naissance du droit comparé, dont il posa les fondements dans son célèbre ouvrage Le Droit antique (Ancient Law , 1861). Celui ci ouvrit une perspective… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Maine — (m[=a]n), prop. n. One of the New England States. [1913 Webster] {Maine law}, any law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages, esp. one resembling that enacted in the State of Maine. At present, the state of Maine sells… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Maine — état du N. E. des États Unis, (Nouvelle Angleterre), baigné par l Atlantique, à la frontière canadienne; 86 027 km²; 1 228 000 hab.; cap. Augusta. Forêts de conifères. Pêche lacustre et marit. Tourisme. Encycl. Hist. Cette région, que visitèrent… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Maine [3] — Maine (spr. Mchn), 1) (State of M., officielle Abkürzung Me), einer der Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika, u. zwar der größte der sechs sogenannten Neu England Staaten u. der nordöstlichste Staat der ganzen Union überhaupt; 1646 geographische… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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