Hi Katharina and the others, thank's so far for the hints. Well, I also think that Cohen is the closest, i.e. the old Jewish name. Seems possible, since there used to be many Jews in this region at that time. My Grandma told me about it. Maybe somebody knows a website about Jewish names and Genealogy? The interpretation using German names modified when entering the USA is not possible in this case, since the ancestors were living in the German territories and this name is in this form in the church registers. Another clue I found is that there is a Scottish name: McKowen... well, who know!?? Thank's for any further help and hints! Bernd Hi, I don't know any word that would fit for 'Kowen' A lot of names where changed when the people entered the USA. So 'Kowen' is maybe 'Kauern' Kauern is used for to hide some were, to squat,to bend the knies, bend down,so it is a position.Position is 'Stellung'in German position,employment,job,place. It can be a rank,posture,attitude and give one's opinion. I don,t know what the word means ,that is just some idea I have. But I am wrong very often,too. Katharina Hi, wer kann mir was zu dem Namen KOWEN sagen. Er taucht unter meinen Vornamen auf. Weiss jemand was ueber diesen Namen? Die Namenstraeger sind im Mitteldeutschen (Thueringen, Franken) zu finden. Moegliche Herkunft: Vielleicht vom juedischen Cohen/Kohen? Im englischen finden wir Cowen/Cowan... Wer weiss was dazu? Danke fuer info! Bernd aus Rom ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com