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Clan Agnew (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Agnew

Clan Crest: An eagle issuant and reguardant, Proper

Clan Motto: Consilio non impetu (By wisdom not by force)

Lands: Wigtownshire and Galloway

Region: Lowlands

Historic Seat: Lochnaw Castle

Clan Chief: Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt.

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Clan Agnew History

The name Agnew's ancestry is not unusual in that it appears to have two possible sources. The most accepted version is that the name is French in origin, deriving from the Barony d'Agneaux in Normandy, who settled first in England and then migrated north to Liddesdale around the 12th century. Another possibility is that they were related to one of the Ulster tribes, possibly as a sept of O'Gnimh (pronounced O'New). This name would have gone through several spellings, including O'Gnive, O'Gnyw, MacGnive, and finally Agnew. According to this version of events, Agnew is related to Somerled and the Lords of the Isles (clan Donald). Because there are many Agnews in Ireland, this theory may have some validity.

Sir John de Courcy was accompanied by Agneau, an Anglo-Norman knight who witnessed a borders charter between Ranulf de Soulis and Jedburgh Abbey in the 12th century. David II appointed the Agnews of Lochnaw as sheriffs of Galloway in 1363, and they rose to power in the area.

In 1375, The Agnew Lord of Larne accompanied Edward Bruce, King Robert the Bruce's younger brother, to Ireland, where the Irish Lords had invited him to help rid them of the English and rule in their place. Agnew stayed with Edward for three years as he tried to gain power.

Andrew Agnew was appointed Constable of Lochnaw Castle in 1426, and Sheriff of Wigtown in 1451. Patrick Agnew, his great grandson, was a contemporary of Queen Mary and James VI. While the Douglasses were responsible for the Agnews' rise to power in the south west of Scotland, when this clan fell out of the King's favor, the Agnews in Galloway benefited. However, this put them at odds with the MacKies and MacClellans.

Charles I made Patrick Agnew's son, the 7th Sheriff of Wigton, a baronet of Nova Scotia. Andrew, his son, was the MP for Wigtounshire and was knighted and appointed Sheriff of Kirkcudbright. He married Anne Stewart, the first Earl of Galloway's daughter. At the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743, Sir Andrew, the fifth Baronet, commanded the 21st Foot (Scots Fusiliers), the last time a British monarch, George II, commanded troops in person. In 1746, Sir Andrew defended Blair Castle against Prince Charles Edward Stuart's forces, led by Lord George Murray. Murray was called away to deal with the approaching Cumberland after the garrison had been nearly starved.

Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw is the current chief of the name and family of Agnew. Sir Crispin has been appointed Rothesay Herald at the Lord Lyon King of Arms' Court.

Lochnaw Castle, near Stranraer, was purchased in the 1950s by an Australian Miss Del Agnew and is now managed by the trust.

Clan Agnew Places & People

Clan Agnew Individuals

Sir Crispin Hamlyn Agnew, 11th Baronet of Lochnaw (Born 1944)

Former explorer, advocate, and officer of arms. He is also Chief of the Name and Arms of Agnew and a Queen's Counsel at the Scottish Bar.The baronetcy he claims dates back to 1629 in the English Baronetage, and he is the eleventh baronet. In 1978, he was named Slains Pursuivant of Arms to the Chief of the Name and Arms of Hay, the Earl of Erroll, Lord High Constable of Scotland.

He was appointed Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary at the Lord Lyon's Court in Edinburgh in 1981. He was appointed Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 1986 and still holds this position today.

He and his journalist and broadcaster wife Susan have four children.

Agnew, Andrew (b. 1976)

Actor from the United Kingdom. He is best known for his role as PC Plum in the Bafta-winning BBC children's show Balamory.

Agnew has spent the majority of his life in Elderslie, with a brief stint in Glasgow. His television career began with the BBC2 show "Fran's People," where he played the Muted Chef. He then landed his big break when he was cast as PC Plum in CBeebies' Balamory.

Following the decision to discontinue filming on Balamory, Agnew directed for the first time in a new children's television show called "Me Too."

In 2004, he made headlines after being assaulted by the brother of an ex-downstairs neighbor who complained about the volume of Agnew's television and his noisy tumble dryer. The attacker, John Watson, was found guilty and sentenced to 150 hours of community service.

Clan Agnew Tartans

Agnew Contemporary

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Ancient Agnew

Clan Agnew Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Agnew Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Proper is an eagle issuer and defender.

Coats of Arms of Clan Agnew

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). There are no such things as "family coats of arms." Personal weapons are depicted below (with the above exceptions). Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.