In-depth research into some of the most ancient manuscripts such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Inquisitio, the Ragman Rolls, the Doomsday Book, baptismals, parish records, tax records and cartularies, gave researchers the first record of the name Westray in Cumberland where they were anciently seated on the English/Scottish border. After the Norman Conquest of England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The Boarder became a convenient no-man's land. Notable families such as the Percy, the Umfravilles and the Nevilles gathered many supporting clans around them. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. In that century, many of those clans drove their herds south, and they settled in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name was first recorded in Lincolnshire but as did many Norman nobles the name moved north to Northumberland when William Westreys held estates in 1219. In 1292, Roger de Westwra held the lands of Westwra in Cumberland.

Your name, Westray, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Westwra, Westwray, Westwrey, Westray, Westrey, Westraigh, Westwrow, Westwro, Westroe, Westray, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred within the family name. Scribes and church officials spelt the name as it sounded, and frequently the spelling changed even during the person's own lifetime.

The family name Westray is believed to be descended originally from the Boemicians. This ancient founding race of the north were a mixture of Scottish Picts and Angles, a race dating from about the year 400 A.D. By 1000 A.D. this race had formed into discernible Clans and families, perhaps some of the first evidence of the family structure in Britain. From this area we get some of the most impressive names in history, surnames with unique nicknames such as the Sturdy Armstrongs, one of whom was appropriately, the first to colonise the moon, the Gallant Grahams, the Saucy Scotts, the Angry Kerrs, the Bells, the Nixons, Famous Dicksons, the Bold Rutherfords, the Pudding Somervilles, and most of the names ending in "son".

From these fighting clans of the border the surname Westray was found in Cumberland where they were anciently seated. They were later found in the Orkneys in the lands and island of Westray but it is not thought to be native to those islands. Sir Michael de Westwray, the clan chief, witnessed a charter of the Earl of Orkney in 1391. Significantly, the Norman style still prevails even at this late date, and at this distance far to the north. From their early beginnings, for the next few centuries the family name also acquired other estates or manors as branches established themselves throughout England. Several major conflicts, the Wars of the Roses, the Cromwellian revolution found them sometimes to be in opposing camps with conflicting interests. In the 16th and 17th centuries the family seat emerged in London in 1613. Notable amongst the family name during early history was Westwray of Cumberland.

The Clans or families to the north of the border became Scottish after about the year 1000 A.D. and to the south they became English. Nevertheless, despite the border, many would still be united clans, but strangely loyal to the defence of their respective countries.

Clan feuds became so intense that in 1246 A.D. 6 Chiefs from the Scottish side and from the English side met at Carlisle and created a set of laws for all the border territory. These were unlike any laws prevailing in England or Scotland or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world. For refusal of assistance when called a person could be hanged on the instant, without a trial. While clans were on this "hot trod" to recover stolen property, (from which we get the modern expression "hot to trod" they were protected from almost all eventualities.

In 1603, the crowns of Scotland and England unified under James VI of Scotland who found it expedient to disperse the "unruly border clans". The Border Clans were dispersed to England, northern Scotland and to Ireland. Some were banished to the Colonies.

In Ireland, they were granted lands previously held by the Catholic Irish. They signed an "Undertaking" to remain Protestant and faithful to the Crown. As early as 1172 branches of certain family surnames moved to Ireland with the invasion of Strongbow, still more were encouraged to be a part of the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century. Later, the Cromwellian settlements moved other families. There is no evidence of this family surname migrating to Ireland but this does not preclude individual migration.

The New World beckoned and the many settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically "coffin ships". Amongst the first pioneers who could be considered kinsmen of the family name Westray family, of that same clan or family was Many settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe to the New World. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Florida, and to the Leeward Islands.

These pioneers became the nucleus of the first settlements from Maine to the Cumberland Gap. They provided much of the stock which produced the early presidents and governors of the United States. In Canada they settled Nova Scotia, the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa Valley.

The family name Westray provided many prominent contemporaries, those notable personalities of this name who have contributed to the society on both sides of the Atlantic.

Research has determined the above Coat of arms to be the most ancient recorded for the family surname Westray.