Not only was Owen definitely a given name before it became a family name, the name "Bowen" is also derived from it - "ab Owain": 'son of Owen'. Graham On 18/10/2014 15:15, Joy Langdon via wrote: > You are right, Liz, it is an example of a patronymic surname which is where the father's first name is used as his chidren's surname. > http://www.ancestry.co.uk/name-origin?surname=owen > > There are certainly several baptisms around the same time at Astbury with Owen used as a first name. > > Joy > > > ----Original message---- > >From : cheshire@rootsweb.com > Date : 18/10/2014 - 14:29 (GMTST) > To : familytree29@hotmail.com > Cc : cheshire-l@rootsweb.com > Subject : Re: [CHS] Owen as a first name 1816 > > Centuries ago, one of the Welshmen involved in border disputes was Owain > Glendower, Owen may have been a Christian name before it was a surname. > > Lxx > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >