This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the grey,' from the complexion of the hair; compare Russell, Brown, White, Black, &c. (a) Local, 'de Grey.' I do not know the spot, but (1) is the chief parent.

Eva de Grey, Somerset, ibid.

Peter le Gray, 13 Edward II: Freemen of York.

1533. William Knevett and Katharine Grey: Marriage Lic. (London).

Perhaps from Gray, a town in the department of Haute-Saone, France. The first of the name recorded in Scotland is Hugo de Gray, witness in a charter by Walter de Lundin, a. 1248 (Sc. Peer., IV, p. 269). The surname is now common all over Scotland. John Gray, mayor of Berwick, witnessed a gift of land to the Hospital of Soltre between 1250—66 (Soltre, p. 32). William de Grey witnessed resignation of the lands of Nysebyte by William de Nysebyte, 1255 (Bain, I, 2026), and William Gray was a charter witness at Newton of Ayr, c. 1280 (RMP., p. 72). Robert Gray, castellan of Banff in 1291, was probably an Englishman (Bain, II, 542). Henry Grey of Fife rendered homage in 1296, and Huwe Grey, juror on an inquest at Berwick, also rendered homage (ibid., p. 198,204, 215). John Gray was provost of Crail, 1327 (ER., I, p. 65). William dictus Gray witnessed a chartet by Muriel, widow of Sir William de Rose, between 1333—63 (Rose, p. 117). John Gray of Broxmouth had a charter of the lands of Craigy in le Mernys, 1357 (SCM., V, p. 247), and Laurence Gray was custumar of Montrose, 1359 (ER., I, p. 612). The land of Molyne was leased to Ibbote Gray in 1376 (RHM., r, p. lviii), and John Gray was rector of the church of Feme in Angus, 1394 (RAA., II, 42). William Graa was one of the prominent men of Orkney in 1427 (Oppressions, p. 109), Robert Gray, "chamerlane of Aberbrothoc," 1497 (RAA., II, 383), and John Gra, tenant in Raynstruder, 1531 (Rental). See under Macglashan.

(English) Grey-Haired, Grey-Complex- ioned [Middle English grey(e, gray, Old English græg, grey)

(English) Same as Gray, q.v.

Most genealogists derive this ancient and noble family from Fulbert, chamberlain to Robert, duke of Normandy, who held by his gift the castle of Croy, in Picardy, from whence the name is assumed to have been borrowed. There is however no evidence for this; for the pedigree is only traced to Henry de Grey, to whom Richard Coeur-de-Lion gave the manor of Thurrock, co. Essex, which manor was subsequently known as Grey's Thurrock. From the "Becherches sur le Domesd." of D'Anisy, it appears probable that the family came from Grai or Gray, a village near Caen. However this may be, the first settler of the name in England, was clearly Anchitillus Grai, a Domesd. tenant in Oxfordshire.

Local: from the castle of Croy in Picardy. The Scottish family are descended from Sir Andrew Gray, Lord of Longforgan in Perthshire, temp. Robert Bruce; who was descended through Anchestil de Croy, who came into England with the Conqueror, from Fulbert Great Chamberlain to Robert of Normandy.

Local. A town in Burgundy, France, on the banks of the Saone. Rollo, Chamberlain to Robert, Duke of Normandy, received from him the castle and honor of Croy, in Picardy, whence his family assumed the name of De Croy, afterward changed into De Gray.

Or De Grai, from Gray, Normandy, near Caen. Arnulph was Lord of Gray, c. 970, and his son Nigel de Gray witnessed a charter c. 1020 (Lobineau, Hist. Bret. ii. 171). Turstin succeeded as Baron of Gray and Dounville, near Caen. In 1082 Gisla, his daughter, granted, with consent of her nephew Turstin de Gray (son of Turgis), lands to Holy Trinity, Caen (Gall. Christ. xi., Instr. 71), and Turstin, ‘son of Turgis,’executed a charter 1096(D’Anisy et St. Marie, Sur Domesd.). Anchetil de Gray, son of Turgis, and brother of Turstin de Gray, came to England with the Conqueror, and 1086 held lands in Oxford, viz. Redrefield (Rotherfield), and five other lordships, from William Fitz-Osborne (Domesd.). Columbanus de Grae, son of Anchetil, witnessed a charter of Ralph de Limesi, t. Henry I. (Mon. i. 331). He had issue: 1. Robert; 2. Roger, a tenant of the See of London, 1165, father of Henry de Gray, first Baron of Codnor, ancestor of the Lords Grey of Ruthin, Wilton, Codnor, and Walsingham, the Earls of Kent and Stamford, Marquises of Dorset, and Dukes of Suffolk. Robert de Gray of Rotherfield, Oxford, in 1165 held lands from the barony of Windsor, Bucks (Lib. Niger). The Bolbecs, a branch of the Giffards, were barons in Bucks and Northumberland, and t. Henry II., Robert de Gray and his son Robert witnessed a charter of Walter de Bolbec of Northumberland (Hodgson, North. i. i. 167). Robert de G., the younger, of Rotherfield, had, 1. Walter; 2. Robert, who in 1200 had a suit in Bucks (Rotuli Curiae Regis); and in 1226 was of Schotton, North­umberland, and became baron of Rotherfield in 1245, on his brother’s resignation (Dugdale). Walter, the elder son, was Chancellor 1205, Archbishop of York 1210, and in 1245 resigned his ba­rony of Rotherfield to his brother Robert, who had issue, 1. Walter, ancestor of the Lords Grey of Rotherfield, Barons by writ 1296; 2. Richard; 3. William, of Langley, Northumberland, 1240 (Testa, 388); 4. Hugh, ancestor of the Barons Gray of Scotland. Richard de Gray and William his brother paid a fine in Northumberland 1233 (Roberts, Excerpt. i. 250). He was Viscount of Northumberland 1236; and from him descended the Greys Earls of Tankerville, and the Earls Grey.

Gray,Grey. —Gray is, generally speaking, confined to the whole length of the eastern coast of England from Northumberland to Kent and to the inland counties immediately adjacent; and it advances in force across the border into southern Scotland. It also extends along the south coast of England, excepting Sussex, to Hants and Dorset. The manner in which this name is restricted in England to the coast and its vicinity is particularly remarkable. It is mingled in the counties of Northumberland and Durham with Grey, of which the former county may be considered the home. The peculiarities in the distribution of these names are but little explained when we refer to the Hundred Rolls of the reign of Edward I. At that time both names were numerous, but Grey had the preminence. Strange to say, at that time Grey was numerous in Kent, whilst Gray was particularly frequent in Lincolnshire, where it was also associated with Grey. The two - names were also well represented in Oxfordshire, Bucks, Cambridgeshire, and adjacent counties, and probably also in some other parts of England that are scantily referred to in the Hundred Rolls Coming back to the present distribution of the names, I notice the circumstance that the Graysons are confined to Yorkshire.