NameCensus.

UK surname

Ray

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname referring to a person known for being wise or clever.

In the 1881 census there were 5,660 people recorded with the Ray surname, ranking it #779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,715, ranked #754, up from #779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Powys and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ray is 8,852 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.0%.

1881 census count

5,660

Ranked #779

Modern count

8,715

2016, ranked #754

Peak year

1999

8,852 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ray had 5,660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,715 in 2016, ranked #754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,006 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ray surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ray surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ray surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ray over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 4,610 #603
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 5,660 #779
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 7,006 #790
1997 modern 8,458 #748
1998 modern 8,798 #747
1999 modern 8,852 #747
2000 modern 8,761 #753
2001 modern 8,535 #757
2002 modern 8,763 #750
2003 modern 8,517 #754
2004 modern 8,387 #769
2005 modern 8,248 #773
2006 modern 8,316 #765
2007 modern 8,395 #763
2008 modern 8,357 #776
2009 modern 8,616 #769
2010 modern 8,796 #770
2011 modern 8,674 #768
2012 modern 8,546 #766
2013 modern 8,692 #766
2014 modern 8,783 #763
2015 modern 8,730 #758
2016 modern 8,715 #754

Geography

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Where Rays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Lambeth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Powys, Horsham, Rochdale and Burnley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
2 Powys 011 Powys
3 Horsham 015 Horsham
4 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
5 Burnley 003 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ray

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ray surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ray

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ray, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Ray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ray household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ray is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ray is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ray falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ray is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ray, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ray

The surname Ray has its origins in the Old French word 'rai', which means 'ray' or 'beam of light'. This surname likely emerged in medieval times, around the 11th or 12th century, in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France.

It is believed that the name Ray was initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who had a radiant or cheerful personality, or perhaps someone with bright or golden hair. It could also have been applied to people who lived near a clearing in a forest where sunlight streamed through.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ray can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Rai' in this historical document.

In the 12th century, a notable individual named Richard Rai was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in England, indicating the presence of the surname in that region during that time period.

The surname Ray has also been associated with various place names, such as Ray in Oxfordshire, England, and Raye in Normandy, France. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Ray dates back to the 13th century, with a person named John Ray mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Ray, including:

1. John Ray (1627-1705), an English naturalist and botanist, considered one of the founders of modern plant taxonomy. 2. Satyajit Ray (1921-1992), an Indian filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of world cinema. 3. Man Ray (1890-1976), an American visual artist known for his contributions to the Dada and Surrealist movements. 4. James Earl Ray (1928-1998), an American criminal convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. 5. Nicholas Ray (1911-1979), an American film director known for his work in the film noir and western genres, including the classic "Rebel Without a Cause".

The surname Ray has maintained its presence throughout various regions, particularly in England, France, and parts of the United States, where it continues to be a common surname to this day.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ray surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 870 Rays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 870 1.51x
Lancashire 588 0.86x
Surrey 552 1.96x
Staffordshire 423 2.17x
Kent 268 1.36x
Hampshire 263 2.22x
Cumberland 205 4.12x
Essex 200 1.75x
Yorkshire 197 0.34x
Durham 193 1.12x
Shropshire 169 3.38x
Cheshire 155 1.21x
Warwickshire 148 1.02x
Sussex 139 1.43x
Northumberland 137 1.59x
Buckinghamshire 120 3.43x
Worcestershire 102 1.35x
Lanarkshire 97 0.52x
Suffolk 93 1.32x
Huntingdonshire 87 7.58x
Hertfordshire 78 1.96x
Bedfordshire 71 2.37x
Somerset 70 0.75x
Glamorgan 67 0.67x
Norfolk 62 0.70x
Derbyshire 54 0.60x
Ayrshire 45 1.04x
Oxfordshire 44 1.23x
Devon 41 0.34x
Gloucestershire 39 0.34x
Berkshire 26 0.60x
Channel Islands 25 1.46x
Monmouthshire 25 0.60x
Westmorland 25 1.97x
Carmarthenshire 21 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.49x
Pembrokeshire 18 0.98x
Stirlingshire 18 0.84x
Lincolnshire 15 0.16x
Renfrewshire 15 0.33x
Cornwall 13 0.20x
Midlothian 10 0.13x
Berwickshire 8 1.14x
Inverness-shire 8 0.46x
Montgomeryshire 8 0.60x
Royal Navy 8 1.16x
Wiltshire 8 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.13x
Angus 7 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.45x
Northamptonshire 7 0.13x
Herefordshire 6 0.25x
Dorset 5 0.13x
Fife 5 0.15x
Morayshire 5 0.56x
Wigtownshire 5 0.65x
Brecknockshire 4 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.05x
Peeblesshire 3 1.10x
Denbighshire 2 0.09x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.16x
Leicestershire 2 0.03x
Perthshire 2 0.08x
Roxburghshire 2 0.19x
Flintshire 1 0.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.12x
Merionethshire 1 0.09x
Selkirkshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 112 Rays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 112 2.22x
Camberwell 107 2.90x
Islington London 101 1.80x
Portsea 99 4.26x
Birmingham 86 1.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 66 5.67x
St Marylebone London 61 1.98x
Wolverhampton 58 3.87x
Liverpool 55 1.32x
Kensington London 52 1.62x
Walsall Foreign 49 4.86x
Mile End Old Town 47 5.15x
Croydon 46 2.94x
Battersea 45 2.12x
Shoreditch London 45 1.80x
Newington 44 2.06x
Aston 43 1.07x
St George Hanover 42 5.57x
Hackney London 41 1.27x
Harborne 40 6.40x
West Ham 40 1.59x
Bermondsey 39 2.27x
Brighton 38 1.93x
Madeley 37 20.21x
St Pancras London 37 0.80x
Gateshead 36 2.80x
Govan 35 0.76x
Bethnal Green London 34 1.35x
Easton In Gordano 34 90.79x
Langford 34 138.27x
Dudley 33 3.60x
Bishopwearmouth 32 2.17x
Molesworth 30 719.42x
Rotherhithe 29 4.06x
Barony 27 0.57x
Greenwich 27 2.93x
Everton 25 1.14x
Paddington London 25 1.18x
St Neots 24 38.47x
Westminster St John 24 3.41x
Poplar London 23 2.11x
Tynemouth 23 4.99x
Limehouse London 22 3.47x
Preston Quarter 22 15.78x
St Woollos 22 4.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 1.06x
Warrington 22 2.71x
Winslow 22 66.87x
Deptford St Paul 21 1.38x
Hammersmith London 21 1.48x
Manchester 21 0.68x
Westoe 21 2.15x
Chelsea London 20 1.15x
Salford 20 0.99x
Wednesbury 20 4.10x
Chadderton 19 5.67x
St Albans St Peter 19 14.13x
West Bromwich 19 1.70x
Westminster St James 19 3.20x
Birkenhead 18 1.77x
Eccleston In Prescot 18 5.23x
Hulme 18 1.26x
Luton 18 3.47x
Westfield 18 86.50x
Wycombe 18 6.91x
Bilston 17 4.50x
Haddenham 17 59.25x
Pendlebury 17 11.74x
Cockermouth 16 15.27x
Congleton 16 7.26x
Darlaston 16 5.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 16 2.15x
Kingswinford 16 2.26x
Kirkdale 16 1.39x
Monkwearmouth 16 9.72x
Toxteth Park 16 0.69x
Audley 15 7.77x
Brentwood 15 21.56x
Plumstead 15 2.28x
Upperswinford 15 23.49x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ray surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 409
Elizabeth 232
Sarah 204
Ann 122
Jane 109
Eliza 100
Emma 94
Ellen 92
Alice 86
Annie 72
Margaret 63
Emily 53
Hannah 47
Martha 42
Ada 39
Maria 36
Harriet 34
Louisa 34
Catherine 33
Edith 33
Isabella 26
Caroline 25
Charlotte 25
Rebecca 25
Florence 23
Susan 23
Anne 22
Kate 22
Amelia 21
Agnes 20
Fanny 20
Rose 19
Frances 17
Harriett 16
Clara 15
Esther 15
Minnie 15
Julia 14
Matilda 13
Rosa 13
Eleanor 12
Ethel 11
Jessie 11
Mabel 11
Beatrice 10
Rhoda 10
Amy 9
Bridget 9
Gertrude 9
Sophia 9

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ray surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 378
John 326
George 218
James 197
Thomas 197
Henry 122
Charles 117
Robert 100
Joseph 88
Richard 74
Alfred 73
Edward 60
Samuel 58
Arthur 46
Frederick 39
Walter 36
Albert 34
Harry 31
Ernest 22
Frank 20
Francis 19
David 18
Herbert 18
Benjamin 15
Thos. 13
Wm. 13
Daniel 10
Edwin 10
Andrew 8
Fred 8
Frederic 8
Fredk. 8
Peter 8
Alexander 7
Christopher 7
Fredrick 7
Mark 7
Stephen 7
Cecil 6
Edwd. 6
Elijah 6
Harold 6
Jesse 6
Leonard 6
Percy 6
Tom 6
Geo. 5
Martin 5
Philip 5
Sidney 5

FAQ

Ray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,660 people were recorded with the Ray surname. That placed it at #779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,715 in 2016. That gives Ray a modern rank of #754.

What does the Ray surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname referring to a person known for being wise or clever.

What does the Ray map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ray bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.