Grey Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Grey Name Meaning: Thought to have derived from the Anglo Saxon word 'graeg' meaning 'grey'. May have also been taken from the place name 'Graye' in France.

An Anglo-Saxon nickname which referred to someone with grey coloured hair. May have also been taken from the place name 'graye' in France for someone who lived there.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Grey Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Grey family

Profession Census Frequency
Female Servant 230
Agricultural Labourer 199
Independent 139
Labourer 85
Male Servant 63
Farmer 34
Shoe Maker 31
Ag Labourer 30
Carpenter 22
Coal Miner 21
Tailor 18
Clerk 18
Miner 18
Pauper 17
Gardener 16
Dress Maker 14
Apprentice 13
Laundress 13
Cotton Weaver 13
Ag Lab 12
Weaver 12
Independant 11
Lead Miner 11
Collier 11
Butcher 10

Grey Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Gray 75% 210,083
2 Grey 100% 43,115
3 Geary 40% 15,928
4 Gary 50% 1,867
5 Garey 80% 1,488
6 Gorey 80% 1,122
7 Gury 50% 1,007
8 Gearey 67% 621
9 Gery 50% 461
10 Greey 80% 212
11 Groy 75% 204
12 Gory 50% 200
13 Greay 80% 190
14 Gry 75% 123
15 Geory 40% 107

Did you know?

The surname Grey is the 2nd most popular variant of Gray.

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