Boray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Boray

What does the name Boray mean?

The name Boray was first used in the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. It indicates that the first bearer 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 Boray family

The surname Boray 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 Boray family

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

Boray Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Boray has been spelled Barry, Barrie, Barre, Barrey, Barree and others.

Early Notables of the Boray family

Thomas de Barry (fl. 1560), Scottish canon of Glasgow, and chief magistrate of Bothwell who wrote a poem on the battle of Otterburn, the greater part of which is...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boray family to Ireland

Some of the Boray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 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 Boray family

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Boray 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.

The Boray 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.