The name Tracey is an English given name derived from the Old French surname Thrace or Trace, which in turn originates from the name of the ancient region of Thrace in southeastern Europe. The name was initially used as a surname in Britain before becoming a common first name in the 19th century.

Tracey can be seen as a variant spelling of the French name Terri or Terry, which also comes from the place name Thrace. The name may have been influenced by the Latin word "trahere," meaning "to draw" or "to pull," suggesting a potential connection to the concept of a journey or migration.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tracey as a first name can be found in the 16th century, when it was used as a variant spelling of the name Theresa. In 1585, a woman named Tracey Throckmorton was recorded in historical documents related to the English county of Gloucestershire.

Notable historical figures with the first name Tracey include:

1. Tracey Emin (born 1963), a British artist known for her provocative and autobiographical works in various media.
2. Tracey Ullman (born 1959), a British-American actress, comedian, singer, and producer, best known for her TV series "The Tracey Ullman Show" and for being the first woman to be inducted into the British Comedy Awards.
3. Tracey Thorn (born 1962), an English singer-songwriter and writer, best known as one-half of the popular music duo Everything but the Girl.
4. Tracey Austin (born 1962), an American former professional tennis player and former World No. 1, who won the U.S. Open at the age of 16 in 1979.
5. Tracey Ullman (1584-1669), an English puritan minister and religious writer who was a prominent figure in the early Congregationalist movement in New England.

While the name Tracey has been predominantly used as a feminine name, it has also been used as a masculine name, particularly in the United States. Historically, the name has been popular in English-speaking countries, especially in the 20th century.