Agnew Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Agnew Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Agnew

The origin of the name Agnew was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Meaning 'from Agneaux', Agnew is a locational name from the Barony of d'Agneaux in the Bocages of Normandy. A Marquis d'Agneaux still owns portions of the ancestral fiefs, and the Chateau d'Agneaux still overlooks the valley of the Vire. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland , Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in the above countries. Examples of such are a family of the name from Locknaw, Scotland , who were appointed hereditary sheriffs of Galloway by King David II, and they gradually became great land owners in the province, holding many estates. A distinguished person of the name was Sir James Willson Agnew M. D. , 1815-1901, who was Premier of Tasmania. In Ireland Agnew is often of immigrant origin, especially in Ulster . It is also derived from the native Gaelic O'Gnimh sept who were allied to the O'Neills. In Cork the O'Gnimha sept adopted Agnew as the anglicized form of their native name, as well as O'Gnew.