The Ray surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 133,171 people carried this name — #220 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 2,210 people counted. That is up 3% from 128,794 in 2000.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 1,880 people named Ray.
36 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 76 départements, most often Allier.
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 Switzerland’s population statistics
345 people named Ray live in Switzerland.
They live in 12 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere 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 Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 7 births for the Ray name in 1890.
Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.
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 260 people named Ray 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 Belgium’s population register
At least 55 people named Ray 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 Flemish Brabant.
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
20 people named Ray have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 104 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 7 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lubusz.
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 print
Ray in American newspapers,
1870.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,217,261 pages in all carry the name.
Who carried it
People named Ray,
with a public archive behind them.
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Florence T. Ray d. 1920 · writer
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John Ray d. 1820 · politician
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Margaret V. Ray d. 1982 · librarian
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Clifford Ray d. 1980 · letter painter
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Dean L. Ray d. 1954
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Lucy Ray d. 1879
Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Ray.
- Ravenel 615 · U.S. census
- Ravera 235 · U.S. census
- Ravet 115 · U.S. census
- Ravey 198 · U.S. census
- Ravi 1,385 · U.S. census
- Ravin 381 · U.S. census
- Raya 7,198 · U.S. census
- Raye 1,625 · U.S. census
- Rayer 355 · U.S. census
- Raymon 250 · U.S. census
- Raymond 40,275 · U.S. census
- Raymont 101 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Ray 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.