Show ContentsAuffray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Auffray was formed. The name was derived from the Old English personal name Alvred. This name was popular in England because of the fame of Alfred the Great (849-899), who was the Anglo-Saxon King of Wessex.

Early Origins of the Auffray family

The surname Auffray was first found in Worcestershire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Auffray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Auffray research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1296, 1317, 1379, 1666 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Auffray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Auffray Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Auffray include Alfray, Alfraye, Alfrey, Aufrey, Aufray, Alphrey, Alphray, Alferry, Allfree and many more.

Early Notables of the Auffray family

More information is included under the topic Early Auffray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Auffray Ranking

In France, the name Auffray is the 2,361st most popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Auffray family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Auffray were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Alferry, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1685; and M. Alfrey, who was recorded in Essex County, Ontario in 1883.


Contemporary Notables of the name Auffray (post 1700) +

  • Guy Auffray (1945-2021), French judoka who was active from 1967 to 1976 and was a Red Belt 9th degree
  • Andre Auffray (1883-1953), French winner of a gold and bronze Olympic medals for cycling at the 1908 games


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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