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

Grays, 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 Grays surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grays in America

Grays is the 12825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grays surname appeared 2,404 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Grays.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grays 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 Grays

The surname GRAYS has its origins in the British Isles, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "graeg," meaning "gray" or "gray-haired." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with gray hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRAYS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Grai," "Graye," and "Grays," reflecting the evolution of language and spelling over time.

The GRAYS surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Grays Thurrock in Essex and Grays Inn in London. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname GRAYS who either owned or resided in those areas.

Notable historical figures with the surname GRAYS include Sir Thomas Grays (c. 1359-1417), an English soldier and diplomat who served under King Henry IV and fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury during the Wars of the Roses. Another prominent figure was Robert Grays (c. 1608-1672), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the GRAYS surname gained prominence in Scotland, where it was often spelled as "Gray" or "Grey." One notable Scottish figure was Andrew Gray (c. 1633-1656), a renowned poet and writer who was part of the Scottish Renaissance literary movement.

In the United States, the GRAYS surname can be traced back to early colonial times, with families migrating from England and Scotland. One prominent American with this surname was Elisha Gray (1835-1901), an inventor and entrepreneur who is credited with developing and patenting several groundbreaking inventions, including an early version of the telephone.

Throughout history, the GRAYS surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, politicians, writers, and inventors. Its origins as a descriptive nickname and its association with place names in England and Scotland have contributed to its enduring presence across multiple generations and geographic locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grays

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

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 Grays 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 Grays 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 Grays was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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