St Kilda Kilts & Scottish Gifts

Two possible origins for this surname, either the Norman de Agneaux or the Ulster O’Gnyw. Either way, this crest comes from the Agnews of Lochnaw. Here we have an eagle with the Latin motto ‘Consilio non impetus (by wisdom/judgement not impulse/passion). The significance of the eagle is not immediately apparent, possibly indicating a calculated and powerful nature. The motto does have a back story; this is lifted from book 7 chapter 4 of the Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus work Historiae Alexandri Magni or Histories of Alexander the Great. The full phrase used there is ‘Consilio, non impetus opus est’ – there is a need for wisdom, not impulse.  So, through this, in a subtle way, the Laird of Lochnaw is associating his qualities with no less than Alexander the Great.

The Agnew crest for the Lochnaws seems to be first recorded in the 1680s in Sir Goerge Mackenzie’s Families of Scotland manuscript. In Nisbet’s System of Heraldry of 1724, the cadet branch of Agnew of Lochryan is also recorded, who took the same motto, but gave their eagle a little sword.

The significance of the eagle is unclear. In late medieval heraldry it could reference the Roman Empire (which might tie in with the Rufus quote) as well as St John the Evangelist. However, it could equally refer to the wildlife around Lochnaw, and simply the qualities of wisdom and power. MKP 11 June 2020