The Bray surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 34,906 people carried this name — #1,003 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,450 people counted. That is up 1% from 34,575 in 2000.
Where the name comes from
The origin of the Bray surname
The town in Ireland is from Irish Bré, of uncertain origin.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Bray» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 1,462 people named Bray.
29 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 71 départements, most often Pas-de-Calais.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 14 births for the Bray name in 1890.
Most were registered in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 600 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Cavan and Dublin.”
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 182 people named Bray live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
49 people named Bray live in Switzerland.
They live in 6 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In Belgium’s population register
At least 28 people named Bray live in Belgium.
Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Hainaut.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
In Poland’s population register
23 people named Bray have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 42 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 4 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.
In the Nordic population registers
24 people named Bray is counted in Sweden.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).
In print
Bray in American newspapers,
1879–1905.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.
Who carried it
People named Bray,
with a public archive behind them.
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Arabella Bray d. 1909 -
Richie Bray d. 2017 · Australian rules football player
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Josias Bray d. 1846 · naval officer
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Benjamin John Bray d. 1846 · naval officer
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Bill Bray d. 1988 · rugby league player
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Mary Bray d. 1569
Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Bray.
- Brauner 962 · U.S. census
- Braunschweig 581 · U.S. census
- Braunstein 2,304 · U.S. census
- Bravard 373 · U.S. census
- Bravin 183 · U.S. census
- Bravo 41,700 · U.S. census
- Braye 242 · U.S. census
- Brayer 395 · U.S. census
- Braz 835 · U.S. census
- Brazier 3,240 · U.S. census
- Brazille 229 · U.S. census
- Brea 1,428 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Bray is.
A volume says what happened to it.
Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.