This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: perryvanwye Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.owings/444.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Throughout the South nearly all Owings spell it Owings but say "Owons" or "Owens". Many did revert to the simpler spelling. No one really knows how the spelling came about but they can be found in the English census and baptisms back to 1600 and earlier. Capt. Richard Owen/Owings experimented with seven spellings and never really settled on any - its his children that began to spell the name consistently. Mostly, people and historians simply ingnore the Owings spelling. The Valley of Owen in California is a good example and Owens-Corning another. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.