The surname ‘Bray’ originates from England. It is derived from the habitation name from places in Berkshire and Devon. The former is probably called from the Old English word ‘bray’ meaning marsh, the latter is from the Cornish element ‘bre’ meaning hill. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive’s has confirmed that the surname ‘Bray’ and or it’s variant’s, dates as far back as the 13th century were a ‘Thomas de Bray’, from the county of Buckinghamshire, England, is recorded on the Hundred Rolls in 1273. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive’s confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain ‘William Bray’, who joined the the British Navy at the age of twelve, and on his discharge settled at Adelaide, Middlesex County, Ontario, where he was Justice of the Peace, and later, having met with business reverses, moved to Petroles, Ontario. He was born at Portsmouth, England, on the 28th of April 1814, and died in 1872, having had issue five daughters. Today, ‘Bray’ is the …
Coat of arms: Argent on a chevr…