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Gregeray is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the personal name Gregory.1
Gregory of Caergwent or Winchester (fl. 1270), was an English historian who entered the monastery of St. Peter's at Gloucester, according to his own account, on 29 Oct. 1237, and is stated to have lived there for sixty years. 2
Gregory of Huntingdon (fl. 1290), was an English "monk of Ramsey, of which abbey he is said to have been prior for thirty-eight years, is described as a man of much learning, acquainted with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. " 2
The surname Gregeray was first found in Leicestershire where "this family is traced to John Gregory, Lord of the manors of Freseley and Asfordby, who married Maud, daughter of Sir Roger Moton, of Peckelton, knight; his son Richard Gregory, of the same places, died in the year 1292. " 3
Another source confirms this origin in that Willelmus filius Gregorii was listed in Leicestershire 1143-1177. 4
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included a listing for Peter Gregory in Bedfordshire; Elyas filius Gregor, Cambridgeshire; Peter Gregory, Bedfordshire; and Richard filius Gregorii, Buckinghamshire. 5
Later the Assize Rolls for Somerset listed John Grigory there in 1280. John Gregory held land in Sussex, according to the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. 4
"Derbyshire is the great home of the Gregorys, who, however, are also established in different parts of the country, Northamptonshire ranking next to Derbyshire in this respect, but they are rare or absent in the east of England and in the northernmost counties. In Derbyshire they have been established for many centuries; the Eyam family of Gregory carry their descent back to the times of Edward II. A Warwickshire family of the name begin their pedigree with John Gregory, lord of the manors of Fresely and Asfordby, Leicestershire, in the 13th century; and about that time the name was also to be found in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire." 6
Up in Scotland, "several early Scots bishops bore this name, appropriate for the overseer of a church. Gregorius Duncheldensis, episcopus, c. 1150; Gregorius episcopus de Ros, 1171-84; Gregorius Moraviensis episcopus, 1150." 7
Furthermore in Scotland, the name "may be derived from Gregor, as some of the Clan M'Gregor changed their name to Gregory, when the Clan was proscribed and outlawed." 8
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gregeray research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1451, 1569, 1598, 1625, 1633, 1638, 1646, 1651, 1652, 1664, 1675, 1677, 1678, 1691, 1696, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gregeray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Gregeray has been recorded under many different variations, including Gregory, Gregorie, Gregorey and others.
Notables of the family at this time include Charles Gregory, Lord Mayor of London in 1451; Sir William Gregory (1625-1696), a British judge and politician, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1678, he purchased the manor and estate of How Caple, Herefordshire in 1677; Edmund Gregory (fl. 1646, died 1691), was an English author...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gregeray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Gregeray or a variant listed above: Alexander, Ben and Thomas Gregorie who settled in Virginia in 1635; Charles Gregory settled in Virginia in 1652; along with Francis, George, James, Joseph, Thomas, all of whom settled at that same time in Virginia.