Find out how popular the last name Bray is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bray.

Bray, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bray surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bray in America

Bray is the 1003rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bray surname appeared 34,906 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Bray.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bray to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bray

The surname Bray originated in England, deriving from the Old French word "brai" or "bret," meaning a hill or a steep bank. It is believed to have emerged as a locational name, referring to individuals who lived near a prominent hill or elevated land.

The earliest recorded instances of the Bray surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various counties across England, including Essex, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Bray, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1179.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, several places with names derived from the word "bray" are mentioned, such as Bray in Berkshire and Bray in Devon.

During the Middle Ages, the Bray surname was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Reginald Bray (c. 1440-1503), a prominent architect and courtier who served under King Henry VII. He played a significant role in the construction of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

Another notable bearer of the Bray surname was Thomas Bray (1658-1730), an English clergyman and philanthropist. He founded the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG), both influential organizations in the spread of Christianity and education.

In the literary realm, Anna Eliza Bray (1790-1883) was a renowned English novelist and writer. She authored several historical novels and travel books, including "A Description of the Part of Devonshire Bordering on the Tamar and the Tavy" and "The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy."

The Bray surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, Bray in Berkshire was recorded as "Bray" in the Domesday Book, while Bray in Devon was known as "Brai" in the 13th century.

Other notable individuals with the Bray surname include Sir Reginald Bray (c. 1475-1539), an English diplomat and courtier during the reign of King Henry VIII, and John Bray (1501-1558), an English churchman and Protestant reformer who played a role in the English Reformation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bray

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bray.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bray was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bray has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bray was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bray, please contact us.

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