History of your Surname
Get access to Agnew family records.Start a free trial

Agnew Family History

Agnew Name Meaning

Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Agneaux in Manche, France. Irish and Scottish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Gnímh ‘descendant of Gníomh’, a byname meaning ‘action’ or ‘activity’. The Ó Gnímhs were hereditary poets to a branch of the O’Neills; in this family the traditional pronunciation is with the stress on the second syllable.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Cagney, Arne, Ager, Agnes, Mcnew, Magner, Abner, Renew, Arney, Annen

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Agnew family from?

You can see how Agnew families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Agnew family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Agnew families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 210 Agnew families living in Lancashire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Agnew's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Agnew families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Agnew surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Agnew ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Agnew. 24% of Agnew men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Agnew women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Agnew were Retired and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Agnew | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    24%
  • Painter decorator
    10%
  • Steel Erector Steel Works
    7%
  • Retired
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Agnew family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 90,000 census records available for the last name Agnew. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Agnew census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Agnew

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Agnew. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Agnew immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Agnew. For the veterans among your Agnew ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Agnew military records

You've only scratched the surface of Agnew family history

Discover More

What is the average Agnew lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Agnew life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Agnew in 1941 was 43, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Agnew

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Agnew family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Agnew last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial