RE: Surname Phonetics You think that's bad...my family name is spelled POU..or POW... or POWE...or POUE...or PON...ad nauseam Marjory in Charleston ================================================================== Agreed. So far I've also seen the surname "POE"...as: PO, PEW, PUGH, PUGHE and changed from PFAU to PO and POE My husband is part of the George Jacob PFAU line...that went to OH from MD, c. 1795-1800 and by the time they arrived it was...POE. His is a Swiss > German > PA Deutsche > M > OH migration pattern. Surnames aren't the only thing that has been phonetically changed. How many ways do you think they've spelled "Lorraine"?? [example: Loraine, Lorane, Lorany, Laurane, Laurany, Lurany] Remember, between the european languages, gaelic and no set way to spell....anything...it's always...."phonix izz soe mutch phun", Lisa __ -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.5/303 - Release Date: 4/6/2006