Cray Family History

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Craobhaigh ‘descendant of Craobhach’ a byname meaning ‘curly(-headed)’ or ‘prolific’ (from craobh ‘branch bough’). Compare Creevy.

English: habitational name from Foots Cray, North Cray, Saint Mary Cray, Saint Paul's Cray, all in Kent and all named from the River Cray which is named with a Celtic word meaning ‘fresh, clean’; or less likely from Cray in Buckden, Yorkshire, which is probably named with the same word.

Americanized form of German Krey and perhaps also Kray and Dutch Kraaij or Kraij (see Kraai).