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
School 1,371
Farm Labourer 134
Dressmaker 82
Farmer 80
Private Means 79
General Labourer 68
General Servant (domestic) 64
Coal Miner Hewer 58
None 56
Labourer 54
Domestic Servant 52
Clerk 50
Carpenter 45
Charwoman 43
At School 42
Bricklayer 42
House Keeper 40
Shop Assistant 38
General Servant Domestic 37
Assisting In Business 35
Housekeeper 35
School Boy 30
Cotton Weaver 29
No Occupation 27
Scholar 27

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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