The Agnew Surname Project is currently sorted by SNP data, which is defined with the Big Y test but only estimated through Family Finder or Y-STR tests (Y-37, Y-67, Y-111). If you do not currently have Big Y data, please upgrade at your earliest convenience. Please click the following link to review the Y-DNA groups: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Agnew?iframe=ydna-results-overview

Based on the available SNP data, the following charts display the path of descent from our three primary haplogroups (I-M223, R-M198 (R1a), and R-M269 (R1b)). Dates shown are median age estimates from FTDNA Discover^(TM), representing when each haplogroup’s defining mutation arose or the time to most recent common ancestor (TMRCA). This version was generated in September 2026.

All Haplogroup I participants in the Agnew Surname Project descend from the ancient paternal lineage I-M223. Most tested Agnews belong to the downstream branch I-P222, with the best-defined lineage currently represented by Group 1 and haplogroup I-Y23144.

Group 1

Members of this group (with some exceptions) share the deep ancestral SNP I-L137 and the more recent SNP I-Y23144 (TMRCA 1,250 CE), which currently appears to define the primary Agnew lineage within Haplogroup I-M223. To date, two additional downstream SNPs have been documented for this lineage, including I-F85036 (which formed about 1,600 CE) and I-Y67976 (TMRCA of 1,800 CE). Surnames represented in this group include Agnew, Mills, and Moore. A few participants are included in this group that need further SNP testing, but have preliminary results indicating they also share deep ancestral SNP L-137. It should be noted that Moore appears to descend from a parallel branch, but he requires additional SNP testing to verify that scenario, and may ultimately not be genealogically related to the Agnews of this line. Documentary and genetic evidence indicate that this Agnew lineage likely traces back to the Agnews of Lochnaw Castle and the Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway, who held the position as early as 1426 CE, and some of their descendants who were present in the Channel Islands.

Group 2

This group currently has four Agnews who share a common paternal ancestor with Group 1 through haplogroup I-P222 (TMRCA 11,000 BCE), but require further testing to determine if their downstream SNPs align with Group 1.

Group 3

This group currently has thirteen (13) Agnews; one Hillen and Johnstone; and three McKinneys who share a common paternal ancestor with Groups 1 and 2 through haplogroup I-M223 (TMRCA 14,000 BCE), but require further SNP testing to determine whether they share a more recent paternal lineage with Groups 1 or 2.

Group 4

This group (not shown in a diagram) currently contains seven Agnews who share the deep ancestral haplogroup R-M173 (aka R1) with Groups 5 through 9, but require further SNP testing to determine whether they belong primarily to the R1a or R1b lineages represented elsewhere in the project.

Group 5

Members of this group share the deep ancestral SNP R-PF6162 (TMRCA 2,950 BCE). Participants with complete Big Y results, which include the surnames Agney and Agnew, share downstream SNP R-BY27797 (TMRCA 1,650 CE). It should be noted that the Agnew participant under this haplogroup has traced back to an Agney ancestor. Although data is limited, it is currently possible that SNP R-BY27797 characterizes the primary genetic lineage associated with the Agney surname, which is believed to have originated in Germany and may be related to the surname Agne. One other participant (Agnew) descends through a parallel branch to SNP R-S5301 (formation date of approximately 1,750 BCE). This participant shares close matches with the Beard surname and it is currently uncertain which surname is more representative. However, it is certain that these parallel branches do not share a common ancestor within a genealogical timeframe.

Group 6

This group currently has three Agnews, at least two of whom trace back to an Agney ancestor. This group shares a common paternal ancestor with Group 5 through haplogroup R-M198 (TMRCA 6,500 BCE), which also goes by Haplogroup R1a or R-M512. Participants in this group require further testing to determine their downstream SNPs.

Group 7

Members of this group share the deep ancestral SNP R-Z2959 (TMRCA 50 BCE). All participants in this group currently have Big Y results. Surnames include Agnew and Crowell, who descend through downstream SNP R-FTD83196 (TMRCA 1,350 CE); Hannan, who descends through downstream SNP R-FT63126 (formed about 600 CE); and two more Agnews who descend through downstream SNP R-FTJ38668 (TMRCA 1,800 CE). One of these Agnew lineages may represent a descendant branch of the Gaelic O'Gnimh (O'Gneeve) family, although available evidence is currently insufficient to identify the precise connection. All lineages in Group 7 have deep genealogical roots in Ireland.

Group 8

Members of this group descend from deep ancestral roots downstream of Haplogroup R-P312 (TMRCA 2,850 BCE), but upstream of all members in Group 7. These include a cluster of four Agnews under SNP R-M222 (TMRCA 100 BCE) that require further testing, but may belong to some of the lineages in Group 7; one Agnew under SNP R-DF13 (TMRCA 2,550 BCE); and one Agnew under R-P312 (TMRCA 2,850 BCE), who has the downstream terminal SNP R-FGC40838 based on Big Y results, but no currently identified downstream variants, which is unusual for a lineage tested at the Big Y level and may indicate an under-sampled branch of the haplotree. All members of Group 8 have deep genealogical roots in Ireland.

Group 9

This group contains many participants who share the deep paternal Haplogroup R1b (aka R-M269; TMRCA 4,450 BCE) with Groups 7 and 8, but require further SNP testing to determine which lineage they belong to. Surnames in this group include thirteen (13) Agnews and one each of Egnew, Browne, and Tipton. Based on available records, members of this group overwhelmingly trace their documented ancestry to the United Kingdom.