Bray Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Bray Name Meaning: This is a habitational name mainly from places in Berkshire & Devon. Possibly a nickname for one of great & noble bearing from the Cornish 'Bregh'.

The former term is more than likely named with the old French bray 'marsh',from the cornish bre meaning 'hill'.

Discover how your Bray ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Bray Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Bray family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 893
Agricultural Labourer 268
House Servant 145
At Home 106
Copper Miner 96
Labourer 86
Servant 80
Dress Maker 79
Farm Labourer 77
Miner 56
General Servant 44
Shoe Maker 33
Laundress 32
Carpenter 30
Pauper 30
House Keeper 29
Farm Servant 29
Coal Miner 29
Annuitant 27
Errand Boy 27
Tailor 25
Farmer's Son 24
Mason 24
Gardener 23
Lead Miner 20

Bray Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Bray 100% 76,247
2 Bury 50% 21,182
3 Aubrey 50% 5,217
4 Abrey 60% 2,562
5 Abery 40% 2,320
6 Bery 50% 1,339
7 Aubery 33% 1,054
8 Ebrey 60% 815
9 Bary 50% 730
10 Brey 75% 533
11 Aubry 40% 358
12 Beary 60% 354
13 Ebery 40% 344
14 Barey 60% 314
15 Breay 80% 290
16 Aubury 33% 263
17 Aubray 67% 256
18 Eabry 40% 244
19 Obery 40% 239
20 Beery 40% 187
21 Breeye 50% 166
22 Burey 60% 156
23 Berey 60% 150
24 Broy 75% 131
25 Braye 80% 120
26 Borey 60% 118
27 Obray 80% 117
28 Ebury 40% 114
29 Obrey 60% 103

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The surname Bray is the most popular version of all its varients

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