The Agnew Family History

What Does the Agnew Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Agnew, with roots in Scotland and Ireland, has its origins traced back to France. Deriving from the Old French words ‘agnel’ and ‘agneau,’ which denote a lamb, the name subsequently evolved to signify a gentle or meek individual. This surname made its way to Scotland and later found its presence in Ireland. Variants of the Agnew surname include Agnev, Aggnew, Agniel, Gneive, MacGneive, Agnewe, and O’Gneeves. In England, the Agnew surname is distributed throughout various regions, with a notable concentration in the northern area, particularly in Lancashire county. In Scotland, families bearing the Agnew name are primarily found in the counties of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire. In the United States, the Agnew name is prevalent in states such as Maryland, New York, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, and Indiana. Notable individuals with the Agnew surname include Jim Agnew, a professional hockey player; Robert Agnew, an actor in film; Ray Agnew, a professional football player; Spiro Agnew, who served as governor of Maryland and Vice President of the United States; Charlie Agnew, a jazz musician and band leader; Troy Agnew, a professional baseball player and manager; Roy E. Agnew, an Australian music composer; David H. Agnew, a 19th-century surgeon who attended to President Garfield following his assassination attempt in 1881; Chloe Agnew, a celebrated Irish-Celtic vocalist associated with the ensemble Celtic Woman; and Billy Agnew, a Scottish professional footballer.