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Graye Family History

Graye Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Gray, Grave, Grace, Grayer, Grabe, Grate, Grape, Grays, Graue, Grade

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Graye family from?

You can see how Graye families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Graye family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Graye families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 15 Graye families living in Yorkshire. This was about 34% of all the recorded Graye's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Graye families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Graye 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 Graye ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Graye. 47% of Graye men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Graye women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Graye were Manager and Laundress.

View Census Data for Graye | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    47%
  • Packer
    14%
  • Timberman
    14%
  • Manager
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    50%
  • Saleslady
    25%
  • Laundress
    25%

What Graye family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Graye. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Graye census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Graye

Passenger Lists

There are 157 immigration records available for the last name Graye. 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 Graye immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 122 military records available for the last name Graye. For the veterans among your Graye ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Graye military records

You've only scratched the surface of Graye family history

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What is the average Graye lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2003, in the United States, Graye life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Graye in 1968 was 74, and 62 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Graye

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Graye 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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