Nain was first established in 1771 by Moravian missionaries.
It is among the oldest permanent Inuit settlements in Canada, most communities in Nunavut and Nunavik were settled in the 1950s or later.
It is also the oldest continuously-inhabited community in Labrador after North West River.
Nain has also been called "Nonynuke", "Nuninock" and "Nunaingoakh".
The missionaries also established posts in Hopedale and areas in the north such as Hebron and Okak.
The first Inuk to be baptized in Nain was a man named Kingminguse who took the name "Petrus" after conversion and then returned to southern Labrador where he used the name "Petrus Kingminguse" and died in 1800.
Many Inuit in the south traveled to the Moravian posts in the north to be baptized and then returned to the south.
The Moravians established posts only in northern areas since the Colony of Newfoundland hoped to colonize southern Labrador.
In 1773, it was claimed that over 250 Inuit lived in Nain.
In 1893, Nain's residents adopted patrilineal surnames at the request of Newfoundland courts.
Many people took names of the missionaries (such as "Kohlmeister" and Townley") while others chose traditional names such as "Agnatok", "Kalleo", "Karpik", "Merkuratsuk", "Pamak" and "Saksagiak" or other European names such as "Abel" and "Obed".
During the 19th-century, many people from southern parts of Labrador settled on islands near Nain and introduced names to the area such as "Dicker" and "Webb".
Most of these island settlements were resettled in the 1950s and 1960s and their inhabitants mostly settled in Nain.

In 1959, residents of Hebron and Nutak resettled to Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The relocation had a huge impact on residents of Hebron and Nutak since the land in Nain (and other communities) was very different (resulting in difficulties when hunting) and many families were divided.
Poverty and alcoholism has affected many of the families that originated in Hebron and Nutak.
The provincial government apologized for the relocations in 2005.
Many Inuit from Hebron were relocated to Nain by the provincial government after the Moravian mission at Hebron was closed under government pressure in 1959.

In 2016, the Google Street View imaging service uploaded images of various roads in Nain.
Nain is one of the few communities in Labrador with images on the service.
Nain was first established in 1771 by Moravian missionaries. It is among the oldest permanent Inuit settlements in Canada, most communities in Nunavut and Nunavik were settled in the 1950s or later. It is also the oldest continuously-inhabited community in Labrador after North West River. Nain has also been called "Nonynuke", "Nuninock" and "Nunaingoakh". The missionaries also established posts in Hopedale and areas in the north such as Hebron and Okak. The first Inuk to be baptized in Nain was a man named Kingminguse who took the name "Petrus" after conversion and then returned to southern Labrador where he used the name "Petrus Kingminguse" and died in 1800. Many Inuit in the south traveled to the Moravian posts in the north to be baptized and then returned to the south. The Moravians established posts only in northern areas since the Colony of Newfoundland hoped to colonize southern Labrador. In 1773, it was claimed that over 250 Inuit lived in Nain. In 1893, Nain's residents adopted patrilineal surnames at the request of Newfoundland courts. Many people took names of the missionaries (such as "Kohlmeister" and Townley") while others chose traditional names such as "Agnatok", "Kalleo", "Karpik", "Merkuratsuk", "Pamak" and "Saksagiak" or other European names such as "Abel" and "Obed". During the 19th-century, many people from southern parts of Labrador settled on islands near Nain and introduced names to the area such as "Dicker" and "Webb". Most of these island settlements were resettled in the 1950s and 1960s and their inhabitants mostly settled in Nain.
In 1959, residents of Hebron and Nutak resettled to Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The relocation had a huge impact on residents of Hebron and Nutak since the land in Nain (and other communities) was very different (resulting in difficulties when hunting) and many families were divided. Poverty and alcoholism has affected many of the families that originated in Hebron and Nutak. The provincial government apologized for the relocations in 2005. Many Inuit from Hebron were relocated to Nain by the provincial government after the Moravian mission at Hebron was closed under government pressure in 1959.
In 2016, the Google Street View imaging service uploaded images of various roads in Nain. Nain is one of the few communities in Labrador with images on the service.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador