Hello again - I certainly bow to David Hoffman's comments. As for myself I do not have an answer. I can say that my little, very worn out, Dutch to English dictionary has the following: "ten - eerste, tweede = first(ly), second(ly)". Oddly enough the translation of "broek" is not brook, but trousers or pants. When looking up "brook" in the reverse dictionary (English to Dutch) one fines the Dutch word "dulden" meaning marshy lands. I have discovered in the past that my trusty little dictionary is not altogether accurate and should anyone want me to investigate further, I do have some Dutch pen pals who have come to my aide many times in the past. I would be happy to get their take on the question. I can tell you that there was an early Dutch family by the name "Ten Broek" in NYS. I saw many records for them some years ago when I was searching for some of my NYS surnames. I have not followed the line(s), but think that it might be very well researched by others. Val Christopher Brooks wrote: > David Hoffman wrote: > > >>What would the prefix Ten > >>translate to? > > > >Ten is a Dutch preposition meaning near. > > So might Ten Broek mean > > "near Brooks"? > as in "nearly [almost] Broek"? > > Does it refer to one who lives near water (assuming there's a Dutch > word > akin to broek for a brook or stream)? > > Do the English and Dutch surnames equate, or are they just similar by > coincidence as soundalikes? > > Anyone? > > Chris