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Wrey Family History

Wrey Surname Meaning

from Wray Barton (Devon). The place takes its name from the river Wray which probably derives from Old English wearg ‘felon’ + ēa ‘water’ perhaps referring to a stream where felons were executed by drowning. The post-medieval surname was also spelled Wray Ray and Rey so some examples below may alternatively belong with (2) -3 or (4).

perhaps ‘the twisted crooked one’ from Middle English wry(e) ‘awry’ a derivative of Old English wrīgian ‘to turn’. It is possible however that le Wrey (1313) is a scribal error for de Wrey and that the following Devon bearers belong under (1).

see Wray. spelling of Rey and Ray; see Rea and compare John Rey 1543 William Wrey 1562 Clementina Ray 1834 in IGI (Toddington Beds); Thomas Wrey 1539 Peter Rey 1770 Jesse Ray 1788 George Keith Wray 1813 in IGI (Reading Berks); William Wrey 1565 John Ray 1758 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Johan Rey 1636 James Wrey 1703 in IGI (Exeter Devon).

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Wrey family from?

You can see how Wrey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wrey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wrey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 22 Wrey families living in Devon. This was about 54% of all the recorded Wrey's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Wrey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wrey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wrey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Wrey. 57% of Wrey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Wrey | 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.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    57%
  • Private Means
    32%
  • None
    13%

What Wrey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Wrey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wrey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wrey

Passenger Lists

There are 504 immigration records available for the last name Wrey. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 572 military records available for the last name Wrey. For the veterans among your Wrey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Wrey lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Wrey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Wrey in 1965 was 68, and 38 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wrey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wrey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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