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Grayes Family History

Grayes 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: Grapes, Grayer, Graves, Grames, Grays, Rayes, Hayes, Gray, Grass

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Grayes family from?

You can see how Grayes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grayes family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Grayes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 5 Grayes families living in Essex. This was about 31% of all the recorded Grayes's in United Kingdom. Essex and 1 other county had the highest population of Grayes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grayes 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 Grayes ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Grayes. 46% of Grayes men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Grayes women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grayes were Miner and Cook.

View Census Data for Grayes | 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
    46%
  • Machinist
    13%
  • Elevatorman
    9%
  • Miner
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Cook
    50%

What Grayes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 974 census records available for the last name Grayes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grayes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grayes

Passenger Lists

There are 125 immigration records available for the last name Grayes. 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 Grayes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 168 military records available for the last name Grayes. For the veterans among your Grayes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grayes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grayes family history

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What is the average Grayes lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Grayes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Grayes in 1953 was 37, and 44 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grayes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grayes 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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