MacBains, MacBeans, and MacVeans are all forms of the same name possibly from the same origin as the early Scottish King, Donald Ban. The principle family is MacBean of Kinchyle from the northern end of Loch Ness. The MacBains are closely associated with Mackintosh and this is apparent in the design of the tartan.

A piece of the MacBean tartan went to the moon and back in Apollo XII in Nov. 1969 with Cdr Alan L Bean.