The spelling of the surname "MacCray" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. In this transcription system, "MacCray" is spelled as /məˈkreɪ/. This means that the first syllable "Mac" is pronounced with a schwa sound, followed by a stressed "k" sound. The second syllable "Cray" is pronounced with a long "a" sound and a final "y" sound that is pronounced as a diphthong. The spelling of "MacCray" using the IPA ensures that the pronunciation is accurate and consistent.