Gray Family History

Gray Surname Meaning

English Scottish and Irish (especially Eastern Ulster; of Norman origin): habitational name from Graye in Calvados France named from the Gallo-Roman personal name Graec(i)us meaning ‘Greek’ + the locative suffix -acum. This is probably the chief source of the surname in Britain.

English: nickname for someone with gray hair or a gray beard from Middle English grey (Old English grǣg grēg) ‘gray’. In Ireland it has been used as a translation of various Gaelic surnames derived from riabhach ‘brindled gray’ including Mac Giolla Riabhaigh; see McGreevy.

In North America this surname has assimilated names with similar meaning from other languages. French: habitational name from Gray in Haute-Saône or Le Gray in Seine-Maritime.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Ray, Grau, Gay, Pray, Fray, Garay, Graf, Gram, Dray, Bray

2M	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
284K	Military Records
207K	Immigration Records
1M	Census and Voter Lists
4M	Member Trees

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Where is the Gray family from?

You can see how Gray families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gray family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gray families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4,984 Gray families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Gray's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gray families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gray surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Gray

What did your Gray ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General labourer and Unpaid domestic duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gray. 6% of Gray men worked as a General labourer and 66% of Gray women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gray were Bricklayer and Private means.

View Census Data for Gray

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

Builders labourer

Incapacitated

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

66%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Private means

What Gray family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 1M census records available for the last name Gray. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gray census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gray

Passenger List

There are 207K immigration records available for the last name Gray. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gray immigration records

Military Records

There are 284K military records available for the last name Gray. For the veterans among your Gray ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gray military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gray family history

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What is the average Gray lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gray life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Gray in 1940 was 36, and 73 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gray family tree

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Gray Surname Meaning

In North America this surname has assimilated names with similar meaning from other languages. French: habitational name from Gray in Haute-Saône or Le Gray in Seine-Maritime.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Where is the Gray family from?

What did your Gray ancestors do for a living?

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

Builders labourer

Incapacitated

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

66%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Private means

What Gray family records will you find?

What is the average Gray lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gray life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Gray in 1940 was 36, and 73 in 2004.

Gray Family History

Gray Surname Meaning

9 million record(s) for Gray

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Gray family from?

What did your Gray ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Gray family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Gray family history

What is the average Gray lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gray family tree

Search for another surname

Gray Surname Meaning

9 million record(s) for Gray

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Gray family from?

What did your Gray ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Gray family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Gray family history

What is the average Gray lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gray family tree

Search for another surname