Wray House
Early-attested site in the Parish of Southoe
Historical Forms
- Ray Houses 1766 J
Etymology
The modern form is clearly corrupt. The place lies down by the Ouse and the older form shows that we have one of the common examples of Ray developing from OE ea, 'river,' noted under that word in EPN. The modern form shows the influence of the north country dialectal wray , 'nook, corner' (v. vra ). It is quite possible that a similar corruption has taken place in Wray Common in Reigate (Sr) and that Wray is really the same word as the Rei - in that name, which in its turn seems to be nothing but the word Rye or Rey from OE eg noted in PN Bk 205.