An English and French origin of the surname Bains is from the occupational name of an attendant of a public bath house.

This name is derived from the Middle English, and Old French baine, meaning "bath".

The Scottish surname Bain is derived from a nickname for a person with fair-hair.

This name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic bàn, meaning "white", "fair".

[2] The Scottish Gaelic form of the surname Bains is Bàins (masculine),[3] and Bhàin (feminine).