They are NOT necessarily the same family. Cook referred to a person that prepared food. Gradually, as surnames became common, the occupational name became a surname. It probably tarted out something along the lines of "Oh, there goes John the Cook", and then became "Oh, there goes John Cook". Koch comes from germanic language countries (not JUST from Germany). The pronounciation is similar to Cook. Some Koch's changed their name to Cook, after coming to America. But, the two families are not related at all, unless there was an intermarriage. The ancestral lineages are totally different. Lynton (Bill) Stewart lcstewart@juno.com or lstewart@pacbell.net Searching: Brown(e), Burrows, Cook(e), Johnston, Stewart. Wright and many others. ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]