Wrey Family History

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).