Introduction
Dynastic orders are the exclusive domain of a sovereign and are thus bestowed by the monarch without the advice of the political leadership (prime minister or cabinet). For the British monarch, these are the Orders of Merit, of the Garter, of the Thistle and the Royal Victorian Order.
Dynastic Orders of the United Kingdom
Order of Merit
According to the list in Wikipedia, there have been no members of the Order of Merit with the name Gray or Grey.
The Most Noble Order Of The Garter
Founded in 1348, this is the highest order of chivalry existing in England.
Among the founder members of the order were:
- John de Grey 1st Baron Grey de Rotherfield (c.1300–1359)
- Sir John Grey (c. 1387 – 1439)
- Thomas Grey 1st Marquess of Dorset (1451-1501)
- Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess of Dorset (1477-1530)
- Richard Grey 3rd Earl of Kent (1481-1524)
- Arthur Grey 14th Baron Grey de Wilton (1536-1593)
- Henry Grey 1st Duke of Kent (1671-1740)
- Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845)
- Thomas de Grey 2nd Earl de Grey 1781-1859)
- Henry Grey 3rd Earl Grey (1802-1894)
- Edward Grey Viscount Grey of Fallodon (1862-1933)
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
This is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland and the current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VI of Scotland.
I’ve not been able to find any Knights or Ladies of the Thistle with the names GRAY or GREY.
The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick
This is an order of chivalry associated with Ireland and the current version of the Order was founded by King George III in 1783. While the Order technically still exists, no knight of St Patrick has been created since 1936, and the last surviving knight, Prince Henry – Duke of Gloucester – died in 1974.
I’ve not been able to find any Knights of Saint Patrick with the names GRAY or GREY.