Gray's

[LynneGP]

My maiden name was Gray and I am looking for a Scottish connection. My family was in the U.S. in the late 1700's but I am not certain exactly when they migrated. They might have gone from Scotland to Ireland and then to the U.S. Any Gray's out there????

[TheDutchess]

LynnePG, Hi my grandffather was a Gray from Ireland. His mothers maiden name was Chambers and he always told me we were related to King Billy of Orange. All I really know is the land he grew up on had serf free on the deed and now it is out of the Gray family.

[Polwarth]

Hello Lynne
Sorry, I'm not a Gray!

The only way to categorically ensure that your Gray ancestry is Scots is to trace back, generation by generation, to the first ancestor to arrive in your country. Then, perhaps with the aid of passenger lists and immigration records you can trace him/her back to Ireland - and then, if you're lucky, to trace back to the original immigrant from Scotland to Ireland... and hopefully then back to a specific area of Scotland, where you may be able to access Old Parish Records.

This is a long, slow and often difficult process - but good luck with your search.

I believe that Gray is claimed as a Sept by various clans, including Gunn and Sutherland (maybe more, too... some names are claimed by many clans!)
and you could probably find out more about your name via the information on those clans at http://www.electricscotland.com and http://www.rampantscotland.com

[momofthree]

Hello Lynne. My name is Tonia and my great-granfather's last name was also Gray, so if you need any info let me know kay.