Wray
A habitational surname derived from various places in England, likely referring to a corner or nook.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 17,892 Americans carry the last name Wray. That puts it at #2,367 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 19,157 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wray surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
18K
1 in 19,157
Census rank
#2,367
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
15K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 15,405 bearers of the surname Wray in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2367th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wray, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wray
The surname Wray has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wrah," which means a corner or an angle, suggesting a possible connection to a location or a geographical feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wraia" or "Wrea." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England.
The name Wray is closely associated with the Yorkshire region of England, particularly in areas such as Wray, a village in the Lune Valley. It is likely that the surname originated from this location, with early bearers taking their name from the place where they lived or were born.
In the 13th century, records mention individuals named John de Wra and William de Wra, indicating the use of the locative prefix "de," which was common practice at the time for surnames derived from place names.
Notable figures with the surname Wray throughout history include Sir Christopher Wray (1524-1592), who served as Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Sir William Wray (1555-1617), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Puritan movement.
In the 17th century, Captain John Wray (1637-1701) was a British naval officer and explorer who is known for his voyages to the West Indies and his encounters with pirates in the Caribbean.
The Wrays of Glentworth in Lincolnshire were a influential family during the 18th and 19th centuries, with members such as Sir Cecil Wray (1734-1805), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament.
Another notable figure was Sir Christopher Wray (1792-1863), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.
While the name Wray has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in the Yorkshire region, where it likely derived from a place name or a geographical feature.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wray
Among Census respondents with the surname Wray, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Wray bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wray surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.6%
- Black or African American12.3%
- Two or more races2.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Wray surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,367 | #2,367 | 0.0% |
| Count | 15,405 | 15,405 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.22 | 5.22 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Wray bearers went from 15,405 to 15,405 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,367 to #2,367.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Wray
FAQ
Wray surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Wray?
The surname Wray holds position #2,367 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 17,892 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Wray surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wray, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.