NameCensus.

UK surname

Agnew

A Scottish and Northern Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "new" or "yew tree."

In the 1881 census there were 1,645 people recorded with the Agnew surname, ranking it #2,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,731, ranked #1,820, up from #2,609 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Kirkcolm. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhins North, Copeland and Carrick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Agnew is 3,731 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.8%.

1881 census count

1,645

Ranked #2,609

Modern count

3,731

2016, ranked #1,820

Peak year

2016

3,731 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Agnew had 1,645 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,609 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,731 in 2016, ranked #1,820.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,018 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Agnew surname distribution map

The map shows where the Agnew surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Agnew surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Agnew over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 991 #2,816
1861 historical 1,084 #2,591
1881 historical 1,645 #2,609
1891 historical 1,744 #2,614
1901 historical 2,018 #2,650
1911 historical 895 #4,973
1997 modern 3,177 #2,024
1998 modern 3,356 #1,993
1999 modern 3,384 #2,000
2000 modern 3,352 #2,011
2001 modern 3,286 #2,006
2002 modern 3,375 #2,008
2003 modern 3,367 #1,965
2004 modern 3,350 #1,975
2005 modern 3,387 #1,921
2006 modern 3,400 #1,909
2007 modern 3,476 #1,894
2008 modern 3,497 #1,898
2009 modern 3,590 #1,902
2010 modern 3,696 #1,882
2011 modern 3,599 #1,914
2012 modern 3,565 #1,885
2013 modern 3,660 #1,877
2014 modern 3,698 #1,865
2015 modern 3,687 #1,856
2016 modern 3,731 #1,820

Geography

Back to top

Where Agnews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kirkcolm, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhins North, Copeland, Carrick South and Stranraer West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kirkcolm Wigtown
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
2 Copeland 005 Copeland
3 Copeland 003 Copeland
4 Carrick South South Ayrshire
5 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Agnew

These lists show first names that appear often with the Agnew surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Agnew

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Agnew, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Agnew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Agnew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Agnew is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Agnew is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Agnew falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Agnew is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Agnew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Agnew

The surname Agnew is of Scottish origin and dates back to the early medieval period in the British Isles. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "an" meaning "the" and "gnìomh" meaning "work" or "deed," thus translating to "the deeds" or "the workman." This suggests that the name may have been originally used as a descriptive surname for an individual who was known for their work or accomplishments.

The name is thought to have originated in the Galloway region of southwestern Scotland, where the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document the Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among those listed is "Patrick de Agnew."

In the 14th century, records show that the Agnew family held lands in Wigtownshire, Scotland. A notable individual from this period was Patrick Agnew, who was appointed as the Sheriff of Wigtownshire in 1426. He is believed to have been instrumental in establishing the Agnew family's power and influence in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Agnew family played a significant role in the turbulent history of the Scottish Borders. Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, born in 1567, was a prominent figure who fought against the English during the Anglo-Scottish Wars of the early 17th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Andrew Agnew, 7th Baronet of Lochnaw, who lived from 1793 to 1849. He was a Scottish politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire from 1835 to 1849. He was also a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery and played a pivotal role in the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

In the 19th century, Sir James Agnew, born in 1805, was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Agnew & Sons publishing company and was known for his support of various educational and charitable causes in Scotland.

Over the centuries, the Agnew surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Agnew Castle in Wigtownshire and the village of Agnew near Stranraer. The name has also spread beyond Scotland to other parts of the world through emigration, particularly to North America and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Agnew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Agnew surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 399 Agnews recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.51x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 399 7.51x
Ayrshire 218 17.72x
Lancashire 208 1.07x
Wigtownshire 184 84.31x
Renfrewshire 104 8.16x
Durham 47 0.96x
Midlothian 42 1.91x
Cumberland 38 2.69x
Middlesex 38 0.23x
Yorkshire 37 0.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 26 10.93x
Buteshire 25 25.10x
Cheshire 25 0.69x
Fife 25 2.57x
Kent 25 0.45x
Argyllshire 22 4.81x
Surrey 20 0.25x
Northumberland 19 0.78x
Channel Islands 17 3.49x
Isle of Man 16 5.24x
Glamorgan 14 0.49x
Angus 12 0.79x
Essex 12 0.37x
Hampshire 12 0.36x
Devon 10 0.29x
West Lothian 10 4.04x
Staffordshire 9 0.16x
Lincolnshire 7 0.27x
Perthshire 7 0.95x
Warwickshire 7 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.60x
Royal Navy 6 3.06x
Wiltshire 4 0.28x
Dorset 3 0.28x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.80x
Somerset 3 0.11x
Sussex 3 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 2 0.08x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.45x
Gloucestershire 2 0.06x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Shropshire 2 0.14x
Suffolk 2 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.28x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.31x
Merionethshire 1 0.33x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.19x
Stirlingshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 132 Agnews recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.81x.

Place Total Index
Barony 132 9.81x
Govan 83 6.31x
Glasgow 61 6.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 35 3.95x
Kilmarnock 28 19.12x
Kirkcolm 28 267.69x
Penninghame 27 121.29x
Irvine 26 76.09x
Old Luce 23 167.03x
West Greenock 23 10.06x
Ballantrae 22 270.27x
Halliwell 22 30.99x
Shotts 22 34.59x
Inch 21 98.68x
Newton On Ayr 21 57.00x
Stranraer 21 105.21x
Barrow In Furness 20 7.54x
Inverkeithing 20 136.43x
Maryhill 20 19.22x
Pendleton In Salford 20 8.61x
Birkenhead 19 6.57x
Rutherglen 18 23.08x
Abbey 17 8.75x
Kirkdale 16 4.88x
Maybole 16 42.72x
Onchan 16 18.20x
Conside Knitsley 15 39.45x
St Peter Port 15 16.65x
Dunoon Kilmun 14 39.24x
Eastwood 14 17.85x
Harrington 14 81.97x
Hulme 14 3.44x
New Luce 14 347.39x
Paisley Middle Church 14 18.88x
Loudoun 13 43.95x
Dundee 12 2.11x
Everton 12 1.93x
Garston 12 20.85x
Liverpool 12 1.01x
Mochrum 12 92.10x
Stoneykirk 12 76.87x
Ayr 11 18.95x
Kensington London 11 1.20x
Kingarth 11 153.63x
Leswalt 11 73.58x
Mearns 11 49.31x
Old Monkland 11 5.21x
Rerrick 11 107.74x
Cambusnethan 10 8.47x
Ardrossan 9 21.14x
Carluke 9 18.65x
St John Near Swansea 9 25.43x
Stockton On Tees 9 3.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.88x
Bedlington 8 9.80x
Blantyre 8 14.46x
Dalmellington 8 22.12x
Gorton 8 4.36x
Portsea 8 1.21x
Sorn 8 33.10x
Whithorn 8 48.11x
Boness 7 20.52x
Dreghorn 7 31.43x
East Greenock 7 5.82x
Huddersfield 7 2.95x
Inveraray 7 118.44x
Kilwinning 7 17.62x
Manchester 7 0.80x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 4.79x
Quarrington 7 341.46x
Rainford 7 33.19x
Rothesay 7 14.51x
Bradford 6 1.52x
Colmonell 6 48.50x
Coylton 6 34.38x
Little Bolton 6 2.39x
Plumstead 6 3.21x
Port Glasgow 6 9.74x
Tonbridge 6 2.97x
West Derby 6 1.05x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Agnew surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Agnew surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 35
John 35
William 29
Thomas 25
Robert 16
Andrew 11
George 11
Patrick 9
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Peter 7
Samuel 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
David 6
Hugh 6
Henry 5
Francis 4
Alexander 3
Alfred 3
Archibald 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Frank 2
Harold 2
Michael 2
Philip 2
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Edd. 1
Edmund 1
Felix 1
Geo.J. 1
Gerald 1
Gerard 1
Gordon 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Hy.J. 1
Isidore 1
Leonard 1
Miles 1
Morland 1
Oney 1
Oscar 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Agnew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Agnew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,645 people were recorded with the Agnew surname. That placed it at #2,609 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Agnew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,731 in 2016. That gives Agnew a modern rank of #1,820.

What does the Agnew surname mean?

A Scottish and Northern Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "new" or "yew tree."

What does the Agnew map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Agnew bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.