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Rayes Family History

Rayes Surname Meaning

Muslim: variant of Rais. Spanish: variant of Rayas. English (Monmouthshire): variant of Ray with post-medieval excrescent -s.

This form of the surname is now rare in Britain.

Altered form of English Roys (see Rose).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rayes family from?

You can see how Rayes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rayes family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rayes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 19 Rayes families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Rayes's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rayes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rayes 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 Rayes ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayers Labourer H and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rayes. 100% of Rayes men worked as a Bricklayers Labourer H and 100% of Rayes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rayes | 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 Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayers Labourer H
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Rayes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Rayes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rayes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rayes

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Rayes. 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 Rayes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 450 military records available for the last name Rayes. For the veterans among your Rayes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rayes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rayes family history

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What is the average Rayes lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Rayes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Rayes in 1942 was 36, and 37 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rayes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rayes 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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