Bray

Bray is an English surname with topographic origins, derived from a place name that comes from the Cornish word bre meaning "hill." The name originally referred to someone who lived near a hill or came from a location named Bray, such as the village of Bray in Berkshire, England, or the River Bray in Devon. In Cornwall, the word bre is a common element in place names, reflecting the region's hilly landscape. The surname thus belongs to a category of habitational names that identify individuals by their place of residence or origin.

One of the most famous places with this name is the town of Bray in County Wicklow, Ireland. The Irish Bray is believed to come from the Irish Bré, though its ultimate origin is uncertain; it is not related to the Cornish root. Despite sharing the same spelling, the English and Irish place names have distinct etymologies. However, the surname Bray may also derive from the Irish location for some families.

The surname is also associated with several additional places in France, including communes in Saône-et-Loire and Eure departments, as well as in Normandy. The name spread through Norman influence after the Conquest of England in 1066, which introduced many continental place names to the British Isles.

Notable bearers of the surname Bray include Sir Reginald Bray (c. 1440–1503), a supporter of Henry VII and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and artist John Bray (1909–1992), an English painter and sculptor.

• Meaning: Hill
• Origin: Cornish topographic place name
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: England, Ireland, France