Here de name Borray in the document of 1693, written by the clerck,.... click to enlarge.

And here the fits and starts signature of Jan Janszoon in the same document of 1693,....click to enlarge.

The pedigree made by my father in 1960, click to enlarge.

From Borray to Borra.

The first man I discovered, who used the name Borray, lived in the United Kingdom in Westminster, where he rented in 1415 a ruin of the English king Edward I.

He was called John Borray and was mentioned in the "Calendar or fine Rolls" on page 100.  A litteral translation is: "a ruinous cottage sometime of John Borray", ( http://www.stradling.org.uk/docs/Cfr.htm ).

Then a guy named Jan the Borrai appeared on 21 September 1613, for a marriage with Henntien Everts, young lady from Amersfoort in the church of St Geerte in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Behind his name is indicated: franscois soldier under kapiteyn Uitenval (huwlijksregister Geref.church Utrecht).

So... a French soldier who marries a Dutch woman and it speaks for itself that he follows the French pronouncement, therefore no Borray but "de Borrai". No noble tale but ordinary French translation (van de = de).

In those years about 8000 people lived in the city of Utrecht, therefore most of the people knew each other very well.

Then in 1680 there is the following document in the files: Resolution of the Local Council of Utrecht (6september 1680) Leydse Schippersplaetse.

The Vroedschap (the local council) opt versoeck of Paulus Fremery, neffens Jacob Borray in pursuance of of the Acte van Sijn Hoogheyt geadmitteert tesamen to captains plaetse opt Leydse ferryboat, him suppliant aengestelt to complete captain, in plaetse van Arien Coeck has died, subject to the widow sufficient tjaer of gratie ende affgeldende the Schuyt according to previous resolution waer his helfte (half) saij accresseren gemelte Borray.(To see catalogue file of the city Utrecht II no.. 121.)

Two times in this resolution the name Borray is used.

These Jacob-Janszoon Borra was from 1686 up to 1701  president of the craft guild of fish purchasers.( Utrechts yearbook 1913, publisht by Ruys) and previous resolution proves the name Borray, which becomes in later documents Borra.

But his brother Jan-Janszoon is also there, in a document of 1693, he rented a piece of land.

The clerk writes the document; he writes Borray with a splendid swipe to its name but Jan, not so good in writing, makes by fits and starts a signature Jan-Janszoon Borra. Writing in those days was not a talent of everyone.  In the document there are also little crosses of people who could not write at all and were present as a witness.

From comparative research of Willem Borra, the earlier-mentioned clerk from Utrecht (around 1950) became clear that Jacob and Jan were two brothers and sons of the French soldier Jan the Borrai.

Both brothers are called in later documents "Janszoon" a normal way of descripsion of "son of Jan" in those days.

Here in the document of Jan out of 1693 is the connection from Borray to Borra, understandable in those days because the exotic name Borray was a strange name for the Dutchmen and difficult to pronounce.

The rest of this search is child's play because Willem Borra has copied all the documents out of that time and my father has made a pedigree of it in 1960.

Now there can be two reasons to "dig" in your history. First of all, you can do that to find wellknown famous ancesters. My goal was different and was based on irritation.... not having an answer on a lifetime question. 

And now?  oh... yes.....call me  Pieter Hendrik Komkommerkruid.... understandable for every Dutchmen.