| ![Show Contents]() Kray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Kray family. Hereditary surnames began to be used in Germany during the 12th century. Kray is an occupational name for a shopkeeper or retail merchandiser. The name Kray is derived from the German word "kram," which means "tent" or "trading post." Early Origins of the Kray familyThe surname Kray was first found in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging medieval society. They later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Early History of the Kray familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kray research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1505, 1568, 1617, 1637, 1705, 1720, 1743, 1745, 1764, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1780, 1784, 1799, 1801, 1817, 1834 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Kray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kray Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Kray include Kramer, Kraemer, Kremer, Krammer, Kraemmer, Kraymer, Kraymmer, Cramer, Cremer, Crammer and many more. Early Notables of the Kray familyProminent among members of the name Kray in this period include Heinrich Kramer (c.1430-1505), German churchman and inquisitor; Ignaz Kramer, known popularly as the "Muenzmeister" (coin-master) of Kremnitz, who was ennobled in 1764 for 48 years of service in the mint and awarded the title "von Muenzburg." Daniel Cramer (Daniel Candidus) (1568-1637) was a German Lutheran theologian and writer, best remembered for his emblem book Emblemata Sacra (1617.)Cramer was a family of German musicians, of whom the head was Jacob Cramer, born at Sachau in Silesia 1705, flutist in the then celebrated band at Mannheim, where he died in 1770. Of...
Another 331 words (24 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Kray migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kray or a variant listed above:
Kray Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Teunis Kray, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1657 [1]
Kray Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Kray, who arrived in Texas in 1860 [1]
- 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)
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Kray migration to the United States 
