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