Fray Family History

Fray Surname 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

32K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
2K	Military Records
3K	Immigration Records
23K	Census and Voter Lists
76K	Member Trees

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

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.

View Census Data for Fray

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.

Builders labourer

24%

Retired

16%

Incapacitated

16%

electricians mate

16%

Unpaid domestic duties

74%

Housewife

Incapacitated

Domestic servant

What Fray family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 23K 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 List

There are 3K 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

Military Records

There are 2K 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fray family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Fray Surname Meaning

German: rare variant of Frey and in North America (also) an altered form of this.

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

Where is the Fray family from?

What did your Fray ancestors do for a living?

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.

Builders labourer

24%

Retired

16%

Incapacitated

16%

electricians mate

16%

Unpaid domestic duties

74%

Housewife

Incapacitated

Domestic servant

What Fray family records will you find?

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.

Fray Family History

Fray Surname Meaning

139,000 record(s) for Fray

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

Where is the Fray family from?

What did your Fray ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Fray family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Fray family history

What is the average Fray lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fray family tree

Search for another surname

Fray Surname Meaning

139,000 record(s) for Fray

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

Where is the Fray family from?

What did your Fray ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Fray family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Fray family history

What is the average Fray lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fray family tree

Search for another surname