The original Latin root word is ‘rex’ which means king or ruler. As a Middle English term it meant a female roe deer, which also refers to someone being timid. There were also place and location names such as Rye and Wray, among other possible roots.

The Old French term raier means ‘to gush, stream, or pour’. So Ray can be for someone who lived near a spring or rushing stream.

Ray is a common surname in India, and is also found in many English-speaking countries. In India, the same name is also sometimes spelled ‘Roy’ from the root Indian word “Raj’.

Other variations in spelling are Rye and Wray in English and then in Scotland it is McRae.
During the 1880s nearly half of Ray families were farmers.

In England those with the Ray surname live in Lancashire and Yorkshire counties and in London. In Scotland, the Ray surname is mostly in Lanarkshire county.

Across the United States the Ray surname is popular. Especially found in , Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, California, Tennessee and Illinois.

Famous: Upendrokishore Ray (a 19th century Bengali writer, painter, violin player and composer), Taniki Ray (professional dancer), John Ray (17th century English naturalist), Dave ’Snaker’ Ray (American blues singer and guitarist), Chris Ray (professional baseball player), Aldo Ray (actor), Rex Ray (artist and graphic designer), Ronny Ray (American track and field athlete), Fred Olen Ray (director, producer, writer, actor and cinematographer), Greg Ray (race car driver), John Alvin Ray (singer and song writer), Gabrielle Ray (English stage actress, dancer and singer) and Rachael Ray (chef).