Sorry... that last reply was incomplete... hit the "send" button by mistake. Annette ====================== In a message dated 5/14/00 4:52:19 PM, Anglcanada@aol.com writes: << need information on the origin of the Rouse name. My grandma Annie or Anna was a Rouse and just curious about the name. >> Angie - Try this for one possible explanation: The name might originally been KROUSE or KRAUSE. When you look at the two letters "R" and "K", there isn't much difference in the way they are written. Of course, I know that ROUSE is a legitimate surname, too; but, I suggest that in conducting further research, you may need to look at a number of possibilites. My maiden name was KROUSE. I have traced my paternal ancestry to Clarke, Baldwin, and Mobile Counties in AL). I do not find the Krouse name elsewhere in rthe state. Theory has it that Theodore Krouse was one of a number of German immigrants who came into the south by way of Mobile and settled around the Bay in the early to mid-1800's (perhaps sailing down from Pennsylvania or other more northern territories.) They may have been merchants, craftsmen or farmers. I know for a fact that Theodore Krouse owned land in Clarke Co., AL. The point is, however, I have seen this man in records with the named spelled several different ways: Crouse, Krause, and Kross. When conducting your research, remember that a lot of records are poorly transcribed; original records were is long-hand and styles of writing might differ widely; people might spell an unfamilar ("foreign") name phonetically, not as the owner might spell it; etc. There are a range of possibilites. ... but definitely check-out some German web sites. Annette Washington, DC