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Gray Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Gray is a name, who ancestors come from the noble Boernician clans of the Scottish-English border region. It is a name for a person who had gray hair. In Scotland, the surname Gray actually came from two different derivations. As a nickname, it came from the Gaelic word riabhach, which means gray. As a habitational name, it derived from the place named Graye, in Calvados. This place-name came from the Gallo-Roman personal name, Gratus, which means welcome or pleasing. Gray is therefore a nickname and a habitation name, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames.

Gray Early Origins

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The surname Gray was first found in Northumberland, with Anschatel Groy of Haute Saone, Normandy, who fought with William the Conqueror in 1066 AD. After the conquest, Anschatel Groy settled in Chillingham, Northumberland. He was from the department of Haute Saone called Gray, sometimes Groy, or Croy, in Normandy. From this house sprang the Grays of Suffolk, Kent, Tankerville, and Stamford. Some of the earliest records of the name include: Richard de Grey (born c. 1140); and his son, Sir Henry de Grey of Grays Thurrock, Essex (1155-1219), a favourite courtier of King John of England; and his son, Richard de Grey (died 1271) of Codnor, Derbyshire, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1258; and his brother Sir John de Grey (died 1266), an English soldier and High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire (1238-1239) and of High Sheriff of Herefordshire (1252-1253). John de Gray (died 1214) was Bishop of Norwich in Norfolk, and later became Archbishop of Canterbury, but was never confirmed. Backworth in Northumberland was home to one branch of the family. "This place formerly belonged to Tynemouth priory, and afterwards to the Grey family, by whom it was sold to the late Duke of Northumberland, for £95,000." Barcombe in Sussex was another ancient family seat. "It comprises 3106 acres, whereof 305 are common or waste; and is bounded on the east by the river Ouse, on which is a flour-mill that has existed since the Conquest, and has been for more than a century in the possession of the family of Mr. Russell Gray, who has also established an extensive oilmill at an expense of £10,000."

Gray Spelling Variations

Boernician names that evolved in the largely preliterate Middle Ages are often marked by considerable spelling variations. Gray has been spelled Gray, Grey, Groy, Croy, Graye and others.

Gray Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gray research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1250, 1296, 1390, 1469, 1445, 1387, 1439, 1416, 1490, 1451, 1501, 1454, 1505, 1490, 1505, 1590, 1660, 1599, 1673, 1611, 1676, 1660, 1676, 1623, 1657, 1674, 1621, 1622 and are included under the topic Early Gray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gray Early Notables (pre 1700)

Notable among the family at this time was Andrew Gray, 1st Lord Gray (c.1390-1469), a Scottish nobleman, politician and diplomat; Sir Andrew Gray (d. 1445) of Fowlis, Perthshire; Sir John Grey KG (c.1387-1439), English nobleman and soldier; Edmund Grey (1416-1490), English nobleman; Thomas Grey KG (1451-1501), 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby...

Another 156 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gray In Ireland

Some of the Gray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Some of the Boernician-Scottish Clan families who came to North America were Loyalists who went north to Canada after the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border went on to found two of the world's great nations. This century, families with Scottish roots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and clan societies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Gray or a variant listed above:

Gray Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Abraham Gray, who landed in America in 1620
Stephen Gray, who landed in Maryland in 1634-1641
Francis Gray who settled in Virginia in 1635 with his wife Alice
Tha Gray, who landed in Virginia in 1638
Alice Gray, who landed in Virginia in 1650
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Gray, who landed in Virginia in 1722

Gray Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Walter Gray, who landed in New York, NY in 1811
William Gray, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813
Zachariah Gray, who landed in New York in 1834
Adam Gray, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836
Adolph Gray, aged 36, arrived in Missouri in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. James Gray U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 200 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
Mr. John Gray U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
Mr. John Gray U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
Mr. Joseph Gray U.E. (b. 1729) born in Massachusetts, USA from Boston, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia c. 1784 he died in 1803, married to Mary Gerrish they had 13 children ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
Mr. Justus Gray U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Gray, aged 60, a farmer, arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
Isobel Gray, aged 43, arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
Isobel Gray, aged 18, arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
Margaret Gray, aged 14, arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
Ann Gray, aged 13, arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Gray, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia
Austen Gray, English convict from Durham, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia
Thomas Gray, a carpenter, arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Thomas Gray, Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia
William Gray, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Gray landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Benjamin Gray, aged 23, a farm labourer, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Emma Gray, aged 21, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Joseph Gray, aged 1, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Christina Gray, aged 22, a servant, arrived in Nelson aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gray (post 1700)

Duncan Montgomery Gray Jr., (1926-2016), American cleric, the 7th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
William "Bill" Mason Gray (1929-2016), American Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU)
Coleen Gray (1922-2015), born Doris Bernice Jensen, an American actress, best known for her roles in the films Nightmare Alley (1947), Red River (1948), and The Killing (1956)
Freddie Carlos Gray Jr. (1989-2015), African-American man arrested by the Baltimore Police Department for possessing what the police alleged was an illegal switchblade; he fell into a coma and was taken to a trauma center and later died
Major-General Carl Raymond Jr. Gray (1889-1955), American Administrator of Veterans Affairs (1947-1953)
Harry Barkus Gray (b. 1935), American chemist awarded the Priestley Medal in 1991, The Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2004
Gordon Gray (1909-1982), American recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Bowman Gray Sr. (1874-1935), American former president and chairman of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Carl R. Gray (1867-1939), American president of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) 1920-1937
George William Gray CBE, FRS (b. 1926), Professor of Organic Chemistry who was instrumental in developing the long-lasting materials which made liquid crystal displays possible
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gray Historic Events

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Christopher Gray (b. 1966), American Specialist 4th Class from Alvarado, Texas, USA who died in the crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 on December 12, 1985 in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Whit William Gray, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and survived the sinking on May 29th 1914
Mr. Arthur Gray, British Assistant Saloon Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and survived the sinking on May 29th 1914
Miss Mary Gray (1909-1914), American Second Class Passenger from Terre Haute, Wisconsin, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking on May 29th 1914
Mr. Edwin Gray (1889-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking on May 29th 1914
Mrs. Madeline Gray (1880-1914), née Shirt American Second Class Passenger from Terre Haute, Wisconsin, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking on May 29th 1914

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Thomas G. Gray, Scottish Chief Engineer aboard the SS Curaca from Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion on 6th December 1917

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. James F Gray (1874-1914), Canadian Miner from Nova Scotia, Canada who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse on June 19 1914

HMS Hood

Mr. John C Gray (b. 1922), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Richmond, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Hood and died on 24th May 1941 in the sinking
Mr. Alfred E E Gray (b. 1902), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Southwark, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Hood and died on 24th May 1941 in the sinking

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Colin Alexander Gray, British Marine, who sailed in to battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking

HMS Repulse

Mr. Dennis Gray, "Dolly" British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking
Mr. Henry Harold Gray, British Chief Engine Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and died during the sinking

RMS Lusitania

Master Stuart James Gray, American 2nd Class passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania and died in the sinking
Mrs. Terence Florence Gray, American 2nd Class passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania and died in the sinking
Mr. James Paul Gray, American 2nd Class passenger from Oakland, California, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania and survived the sinking by escaping on an overturned collapsible
Mr. Robert Duncan Gray, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Brooklyn, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania and survived the sinking

Gray Clan Badge

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A clan is a social group made up of a number of distinct branch-families that actually descended from, or accepted themselves as descendants of, a common ancestor. The word clan means simply children. The idea of the clan as a community is necessarily based around this idea of heredity and is most often ruled according to a patriarchal structure. For instance, the clan chief represented the hereditary "parent" of the entire clan. The most prominent example of this form of society is the Scottish Clan system...

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Septs of the Distinguished Name Gray
Gray, Graye, Grays, Groy and more.

Gray Family Crest Products

Citations

^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
^ 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

Other References

Fairbairn,. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.
Prebble, John. The Highland Clearances. London: Secker & Warburg, 1963. Print.
Markale, J. Celtic Civilization. London: Gordon & Cremonesi, 1976. Print.
Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
Holt, J.C. Ed. Domesday Studies. Woodbridge: Boydell, 1987. Print. (ISBN 0-85115-477-8).
Bell, Robert. The Book of Ulster Surnames. Belfast: Blackstaff, 1988. Print. (ISBN 10-0856404160).
Hinde, Thomas Ed. The Domesday Book England's Heritage Then and Now. Surrey: Colour Library Books, 1995. Print. (ISBN 1-85833-440-3).
Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
Urquhart, Blair Edition. Tartans The New Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Secauccus, NJ: Chartwell Books, 1994. Print. (ISBN 0-7858-0050-6).
Filby, P. William and Mary K Meyer. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index in Four Volumes. Detroit: Gale Research, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8).
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The Gray Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Gray Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 16 September 2016 at 11:17.