Ray Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Ray Name Meaning: Derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'ea', meaning someone who lived by a river/stream or 'ray' which was the name given to a female deer. May have also originated from the French 'rey', meaning 'king'.

A name for someone that lived near a river/stream. May have also been a nickname for someone who acted 'kingly' or someone shy who had similar attributes to a female deer.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Ray Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Ray family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,157
Cotton Weaver 106
Coal Miner 96
General Labourer 83
Agricultural Labourer 75
Dress Maker 61
Living On Own Means 61
Domestic Servant 60
Labourer 50
General Servant Domestic 49
Living On Her Own Means 46
Laundress 34
Farm Labourer 32
General Servant 28
Clerk 27
Blacksmith 26
House Keeper 22
Carter 21
Farm Servant 20
Gardener 20
Carman 20
Farmer 19
Hawker 17
Painter 17
Cotton Winder 17

Ray Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Ray 100% 49,419
2 Wray 75% 29,304
3 Reay 75% 18,029
4 Airey 40% 14,537
5 Rye 33% 10,238
6 Rae 67% 7,853
7 Roy 67% 6,494
8 Rey 67% 2,428
9 Ree 33% 1,828
10 Eary 50% 1,118
11 Raye 75% 1,019
12 Arey 50% 567
13 Roye 50% 532
14 Airy 25% 525
15 Ary 33% 408
16 Earey 40% 323
17 Urey 50% 238
18 Rauey 60% 179
19 Eray 75% 128
20 Royee 40% 124
21 Aray 75% 101

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The surname Ray is the most popular version of all its varients

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