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
Living On Own Means 111
General Labourer 98
General Servant Domestic 68
Cotton Weaver 64
Scholar 53
Dress Maker 43
Domestic Servant 33
Housemaid Domestic 30
Cook Domestic 29
Farmer 24
Servant Domestic 23
Charwoman 22
Agricultural Labourer 22
Carman 19
House Maid Domestic 18
House Keeper Domestic 17
Laundress Wash 17
Bricklayer 16
Dressmaker 16
House Painter 16
School 15
Tailoress 15
At School 15
Coal Miner Hewer 15
Commercial Clerk 14

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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