Clan Agnew

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Clan Agnew

Motto	Consilio non impetu (By wisdom not by force)
Origins	The origin of the name is disputed but is generally thought to have been of Norman origin, from the Barony d'Agneaux who settled in England, but is recorded as having been in southern Scotland towards the end of the 12th century. It has been suggested that the name may have a Celtic derivation through the Ulster surname of O'Gnimh, which was also anglicised to Agnew. If correct, this would give Agnew a common lineage with Macdonald, Macdougall and the other descendants of Somerled, the 12th century King of the Isles.
Branches	Agnew of Lochnaw
Sept(s)	Agneli Agnex Aignell Aggnew Agnewe Agnew Agneaux Aygnel Angnew Slavan}}}
Arms	An eagle issuant and reguardant Proper
Tartan(s)	{{{tartans}}}
Plant badge	{{{plant badge}}}
Clan chieftain	11th Baronet Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw. Sir Crispin is a leading expert on Scottish clans and is Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary at the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Clan seat(s)	Lochnaw Castle, no longer in family hands
Website	{{{homepage}}}

Clan Agnew is a Scottish clan from Wigtownshire and Galloway in the southwest of Scotland.

1 History
2 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origins of the Clan

There are two theories as to the origins of the name Agnew. The most widley accepted theory is that the name is French and that it derives from the Barony d'Agneaux in Normandy and that those people settled in England an then migrated north to Liddesdale, Scotland in the 12th century. The other possability is that the Clan Agnew were connected to one of the tribes in Ulster, Ireland maybe as a sept of O'Gnive which is pronounced O'New. This name would have gone through many variations; O'Gnive, O'Gnyw, MacGnive, and finally Agnew. This version of events would relate the Agnews to King Somerled who the Clan MacDonald descends from. Indeed many Agnews are found in Ireland so there may be some truth in this theory.

[edit] 14th Century & Robert the Bruce

In 1375 The Agnew Lord of Larne accompanied Edward Bruce, younger brother of King Robert the Bruce to Ireland where he had been invited by the Irish Lords to help rid them of the English and rule in their place. Agnew stayed with Edward for three years while he attempted to establish his power

[edit] 15th Century & Clan Conflicts

Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw was granted the lands and constableship of Lochnaw Castle in 1426. In 1451 he was appointed Sheriff of Wigtown, an honour still held by direct descendants today.

During the 15th century the Clan Agnew rose to power however this was under the powerful Clan Douglas. When the Douglases fell from the Kings favour the Agnews in Galloway in fact benefited. However this then brought them into many conflicts with the Clan MacKie and the Clan MacLellan.

[edit] 16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars

In the 16th century during the Anglo-Scottish Wars Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 in fighting against the English.

[edit] 17th Century

Sir Patrick was MP for Wigtownshire from 1628 to 1633, and again from 1643 to 1647. He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on 28 July 1629. He died in 1661 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Andrew, who had been knighted in his father’s lifetime and who was also returned as MP for Wigtownshire. He was created Sheriff of Kircudbright as well as Wigtown in the 1650s, when Scotland was part of the Protectorate with England. He married Anne Stewart, daughter of the first Earl of Galloway.

[edit] 18th Century Jacobite Uprisings & War against the French

The fifth Baronet, another Andrew, married a kinswoman, Eleanor Agnew of Lochryan, the union producing no fewer than twentyone children. He was a decorated soldier commanding the 21st Foot, which later became the Royal Scots Fusiliers, at the Battle of Dettingen against the French in 1743. King George II of Great Britain, the last time a British monarch led troops in battle, remarked to Agnew that French cavalry had been let among his regiment. Sir Andrew replied, "Yes, please your Majesty, but they didna win back again".

During the 1745 Jacobite Rising the Clan Agnew contiued their support of the British Government. Sir Andrew held Blair Castle, seat of the Duke of Atholl who was chief of the Clan Murray, against the Jacobite forces. The Clan Murray were divided, their chief supported the British Government but his son supported the Jacobites. Agnew's forces were near starvation when Charles Edward Stuart called the forces to retreat to Inverness to meet the advance of Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.

In spite of his name, former Vice President of the United States Spiro Agnew is not related to this clan; his name is a shortening of the Greek name Spiros Anagnostopoulos.