Show ContentsEgnew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Egnew family

The surname Egnew was first found in the Barony of Agneaux, within Normandy, where "a Marquis d'Agneaux still owns portions of the ancestral fiefs and the Chateau d'Agneaux still overlooks the valley of the Vire. In 1363 the Lochnaw family of the name were appointed hereditary sheriffs of Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh) by King David a and they gradually became great land-owners in the province, holding many estates." 1

"In 1074 Herbert de Agnellis and Corbin his son sold lands to Odo of Bayeux." 2

Some have mistakenly considered the Agnews to be of Irish origin, as an Anglicized form of the Irish sept O'Gnivews, but the name is actually of territorial origin, deriving from Agneaux. They are descended from John McDonnell, brother of Angus Oge, Lord of the Isles, his grandson being John MacGneive, who was called in English, Agnew.

Early History of the Egnew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Egnew research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1628, 1633, 1643, 1644, 1647, 1660, 1661, 1665, 1667, 1669, 1671, 1685, 1687, 1689, 1702, 1735, 1771, 1864, 1890 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Egnew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Egnew Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Agnew, Gneive, MacGneive, Aggnew, O'Gnieves, O'Gneeves, Agnewe, Agnev and many more.

Early Notables of the Egnew family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir Andrew Agnew, the famous poet; Sir Patrick Agnew, 1st Baronet (c. 1578-1661), Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire, 1628-1633 and 1643-1647; Sir Andrew Agnew, 2nd Baronet (died 1671), Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire, in 1644, 1647, 1665, 1667 and 1669; Sir Andrew Agnew, 3rd Baronet (died 1702), Member...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Egnew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Egnew family to Ireland

Some of the Egnew family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Egnew migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Egnew Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Egnew, who arrived in New York in 1789 3
Egnew Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Egnew, who landed in South Carolina in 1806 3
  • Francis Egnew, who landed in South Carolina in 1810 3

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Robert Ross Egnew, American Seaman First Class from Illinois, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 4


The Egnew Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Consilio non impetu
Motto Translation: By wisdom not by rashness.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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