Barray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the Barray name date back to the kingdom of Dalriada in ancient Scotland. Barray was a name for someone who lived in Barry, in Angus in mid-west Scotland. The place-name Barry, often spelled Barrie, is derived from the Gaelic word borrach, which means "rough, grassy hill."

Early Origins of the Barray family

The surname Barray was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they have held territories from very ancient times.

Early History of the Barray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barray research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1495, 1560, 1658, 1713 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Barray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barray Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Barray has been spelled Barry, Barrie, Barre, Barrey, Barree and others.

Early Notables of the Barray family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Thomas de Barry (fl. 1560), Scottish canon of Glasgow, and chief magistrate of Bothwell who wrote a poem on the battle...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barray family to Ireland

Some of the Barray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barray family

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Barray or a variant listed above: Clement Barry who settled in St. Christopher in 1633; Elizabeth Barry settled in New England in 1765; Garratt Barry who settled in Virginia in 1681; Alice Barry settled in Barbados in 1680.

Contemporary Notables of the name Barray (post 1700) +

Gérard Barray (1931-2024), French actor

The Barray 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: Regi legi fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to king and law.