Graye

Graye is primarily a surname and an historical variant spelling of the more common surnames Gray and Grey. The form likely derives from the Old English græg, representing the color gray, and from Middle English spellings of that term. As a descriptive nickname, Graye could have referred to someone with gray hair or clothing, or toponymically to a place associated with the color.

In medieval English records, Graye appears as a variant form alongside Gray and Grey, reflecting the absence of standardized spelling. The name spread with English emigration, and records from later centuries show Graye continuing as a family surname in various regions.

Today, Graye remains relatively uncommon as a modern surname. In contemporary datasets it is typically documented as a variant of Gray or Grey rather than as an independent stock name. When encountered, it is most often found among English-speaking populations in the United Kingdom, North America, and other former English colonies.

See also Gray, Grey, Grays.