History of your Surname
Get access to Fray family records.Start a free trial

Fray Family History

Fray Name Meaning

German: rare variant of Frey and in North America (also) an altered form of this. English: from the personal name Fray probably an Anglo-Norman French form of ancient Germanic Fredo (a pet form of names beginning with Fred- or Freth-) which was used by the Normans in Normandy. English: nickname for a violent person from Middle English fray a shortened form of Middle English (Old French) affrai ‘attack brawl uproar’. French: nickname derived from the Old French verb frayer ‘to rub’ or ‘to hit’.

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


Similar surnames: Ray, Gray, Fay, Rey, Bray, Pray, Fry, Dray, Wray, Frary

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Fray family from?

You can see how Fray families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fray family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fray families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 187 Fray families living in Lancashire. This was about 27% of all the recorded Fray's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Fray families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fray surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Fray ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fray. 24% of Fray men worked as a Builders Labourer and 74% of Fray women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fray were Electricians Mate and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Fray | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    24%
  • Retired
    16%
  • Incapacitated
    16%
  • Electricians Mate
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Fray family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Fray. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fray census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fray

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Fray. 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 Fray immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Fray. For the veterans among your Fray ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fray military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fray family history

Discover More

What is the average Fray lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Fray life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Fray in 1955 was 74, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fray

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fray family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Fray last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial