Ray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Ray

What does the name Ray mean?

The saga of the name Ray begins with a Strathclyde-Briton family in the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name for a person known as a timid or shy person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word ray, that referred to a roe or female deer. 1

Early Origins of the Ray family

The surname Ray was first found in Cumberland at Gill, in the parish of Bromfield which belonged to the family from the time of William the Lion, king of Scotland (died 1214.) "Tradition says, that the original Ray was a faithful adherent of the Scottish monarch, by whom he was greatly esteemed, for his extraordinary swiftness of foot in pursuing the deer and who gave him the estate. The tenure was by a pepper-com rent, with the stipulation, that the name of William should be perpetuated in the family. This was strictly observed from generation to generation, until the latter half of the last [of the 18th] century, when the Mr. William Reay in possession gave to the ' hope of the house ' the name of John. " 1

Thomas filius Ray witnessed confirmation by Alexander, son of Walter, of his father's gift to the church of Paisley in 1239. 2

While there is no doubt of the family's origin in the north of England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Reginald le Raye, in Oxfordshire; Nicholas le Ray in Suffolk; and Richard le Ray in Cambridgeshire. 3

Early History of the Ray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ray research. Another 245 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1376, 1465, 1487, 1530, 1558, 1612, 1627, 1670, 1671, 1705, 1748 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ray Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were hardly exact sciences in Medieval Scotland. Sound, rather than any set of rules, was the basis for spellings, so one name was often spelled different ways even within a single document. Spelling variations are thus an extremely common occurrence in Medieval Scottish names. Ray has been spelled Rae, Rea, Ree, Ray and others.

Early Notables of the Ray family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Centuries later, John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, who was one of the early botanical and zoological systematists, eponym of the fish named ray
John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, born at Black Notley, near Braintree, Essex. Until 1670 he himself spelt his name Wray; but he then dropped the initial W, because it was not possible t...

Ray World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ray is the 173^rd most popular surname with an estimated 136,785 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Ray is ranked the 1,402^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,082 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Ray is the 799^th popular surname with an estimated 4,920 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Ray as 926^th with 803 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Ray as 765^th with 8,760 people. 8

Migration of the Ray family to Ireland

Some of the Ray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ray migration to the United States +

Such hard times forced many to leave their homeland in search of opportunity across the Atlantic. Many of these families settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. The ancestors of many of these families have rediscovered their roots in the 20th century through the establishment of Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Among them:

Ray Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Simon Ray, who settled in Massachusetts in 1620
Abram Ray, aged 20, who arrived in Isla de Providencia in 1635 aboard the ship "Expectation"
Samuel Ray, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637 9
Benj Ray, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 9
Darby Ray, who landed in Virginia in 1642 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ray Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Ray, who landed in Virginia in 1702 9
Isaac Ray, who landed in New England in 1720 9
Daniel Ray, who settled in Virginia in 1731
Joseph Ray, who arrived in Virginia in 1740 9
Michel Ray, who settled in Boston in 1764

Ray Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Ray, aged 24, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 9
Thomas W Ray, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 9
Hugh Ray, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 9
Daniel Ray, aged 50, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 9
Duncan Ray, aged 47, who arrived in North Carolina in 1813 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ray migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ray Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ann Ray, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Honor Ray, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
James Ray, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
William Ray, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Daniel Ray U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10

Ray Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Francis Ray, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1817
Margaret Ray, who arrived in Canada in 1823
William Ray, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
Eliza Ray, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
Ms. Eliza Ray, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Prince George" but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ray migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ray Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Ray, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. John Ray, (b. 1794), aged 25, English baker who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1874 13
Mr. Richard Ray, British Convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. John Ray, (b. 1792), aged 27, English shoe maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. Joseph Ray, (b. 1807), aged 21, English carpenter who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1866 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ray migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ray Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Ray, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Anne Longton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th October 1857 16
Mr. Walter Ray, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Anne Longton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th October 1857 16
Mr. Neil Ray, (b. 1838), aged 25, British ploughman travelling from London aboard the ship "David G. Fleming" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th December 1863 16
Mr. Charles Ray, (b. 1845), aged 18, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 16
Mary Ray, aged 21, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ray (post 1700) +

James Earl Ray (1957-2023), American professional NBA basketball player who played for the Denver Nuggets in 1980 through 1983
Larry Dale Ray (1958-2023), American Major League Baseball right fielder for the Houston Astros in the 1982 season
David Robert "Bobby" Ray (1945-1969), United States Navy sailor, recipient of the Medal of Honor
John "Johnny" Ray (1937-2020), American stock car racing driver, father of Kevin Ray
Jimmy Ray Jr. (b. 1969), birth name of Roman Artiste, an American film and television actor, screenwriter, film director
Gene Anthony Ray (1962-2003), American actor, dancer, and choreographer, best known for his work on the Fame movie and television series
Marguerite "Dixy Lee" Ray (1914-1994), American politician, the 17th Governor of the U.S. State of Washington
First Lieutenant Bernard J Ray, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
Man Emmanuel Rabinovich Ray (1890-1976), American painter
Alphonso Ray, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from New Mexico, 1934 17
... (Another 140 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ray family +

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Albert S. Ray, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 18

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Harold George Ray (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Spring Hill, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Ray, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 20

RMS Titanic

Mr. Frederick Dent Ray, aged 32, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 13 21

USS Arizona

Mr. Harry Joseph Ray, American Boatswain's Mate Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22

The Ray Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In omnia promptus
Motto Translation: Ready for everything.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 52)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html