This is a surname with one of the most ancient origins. It derives from an Olde British word 'ea' pronounced 'ay' and describes someone who lived by a stream. More pragmatically it probably referred to somebody who lived on dry land by a stream, since before the days of land drainage to find 'dry land' was vital. It is true that some nameholders particularly those who originate in the Sussex - Kent region of England, may derive from the town of Rye, which means what it says - 'the place where corn was grown'. In Early English the descriptive phrase was 'aet paere ea' (at the island) which by the Middle ages had become 'at ther ee', and thence was further shortened to 'atte rie' and hence the modern
surname which can be found as Ray, Rea, Reay, Wrey, Raye, and even Nye, formerly 'atten ea'! Examples of early recordings include William atte Rea in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, William bith Ree in the 1293 rolls of Worcester, and John atte Reye in the Essex Rolls of 1327. The Coat of Arms granted in Northumberland has the blazon of a blue field, a plate between three silver crescents. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph de la Reye, which was dated 1279, in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
surname which can be found as Ray, Rea, Reay, Wrey, Raye, and even Nye, formerly 'atten ea'! Examples of early recordings include William atte Rea in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, William bith Ree in the 1293 rolls of Worcester, and John atte Reye in the Essex Rolls of 1327. The Coat of Arms granted in Northumberland has the blazon of a blue field, a plate between three silver crescents. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph de la Reye, which was dated 1279, in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Georgia May Ray Robinson
Mother of Grace Marie Robinson Honeycutt
Grandmother of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: December 2, 1904 Yancey County, NC
Date of Death: April 16, 1989 Yancey County, NC
Parents: William Archie Ray & Minnie Rippy Ray
Mother of Grace Marie Robinson Honeycutt
Grandmother of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: December 2, 1904 Yancey County, NC
Date of Death: April 16, 1989 Yancey County, NC
Parents: William Archie Ray & Minnie Rippy Ray
William Archie Ray
Father of Georgia May Ray Robinson
G Grandfather of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: 1869 NC
Date of Death: November 7, 1944 Almance, NC
Parents: Robert Ray & Nancy Ward Ray
Spouse: Minnie Rippy Ray 12/5/1879 - 10/1/1961
Married 1895
Buried: Cross Roads Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mebane, Alamance Co., NC w/ Minnie
Father of Georgia May Ray Robinson
G Grandfather of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: 1869 NC
Date of Death: November 7, 1944 Almance, NC
Parents: Robert Ray & Nancy Ward Ray
Spouse: Minnie Rippy Ray 12/5/1879 - 10/1/1961
Married 1895
Buried: Cross Roads Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mebane, Alamance Co., NC w/ Minnie
Robert Ray
Father of William Archie Ray
GG Grandfather of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: 1847 Person, NC
Date of Death:
Parents:
Spouse: Nancy Ward Ray 1828 - 1917
She is buried in the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mebane, Alamance Co., NC
1870 US Census shows Nancy as head of household
Father of William Archie Ray
GG Grandfather of Stanley Honeycutt
Date of Birth: 1847 Person, NC
Date of Death:
Parents:
Spouse: Nancy Ward Ray 1828 - 1917
She is buried in the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mebane, Alamance Co., NC
1870 US Census shows Nancy as head of household