Surname FitzGerrald - Meaning and Origin

FitzGerrald: What does the surname FitzGerrald mean?

The surname FitzGerrald is an Irish name which derives from the Norman family of de Gerad, which also gave rise to the surnames Garrett and Gerard. The Normans began arriving in Ireland in the eleventh century. The prefix ‘Fitz’ originates from the Norman custom of referring to a person’s father as ‘Fils’ or 'Fitz', meaning ‘son of’. Therefore the surname FitzGerrald originates from the phrase 'son of Gerard'; these two words combined over time to become the FitzGerrald family name.

The FitzGerrald dynasty began with Maurice FitzGerald, who was a companion of Richard de Clare, the Earl of Pembroke in Wales. Maurice and his family were given lands in the province of Munster in Ireland, which made them one of the most powerful families in the region in the twelfth and thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, the Fitzgerald family split into two branches; the FitzGeralds of Desmond and the FitzGeralds of Kildare. Both branches became prominent in Irish politics and history, with many members taking part in the subjugation of the native Irish.

The FitzGerrald family has made a lasting impression on Irish history, culture, and landscape. The main Fitzgerald clans are located in Munster, Dublin and Kilkenny, and the name FitzGerrald is found all over the country. There are still dozens of iconic landmarks in Ireland which bear the name, such as the FitzGerald Viaduct, FitzGerald Park and Fitzgerald Stadium. The legacy of the FitzGerrald family lives on, and they remain one of the most well-known Irish clans.

FitzGerrald: Where does the name FitzGerrald come from?

The last name FitzGerald is most commonly associated with Irish individuals. It is one of the most numerous surnames in Ireland, ranking at number 28 on the list of most popular Irish surnames. While the vast majority of FitzGeralds are concentrated in Ireland, the surname has spread to other countries worldwide. Many individuals with FitzGerald heritage and last names can be found in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.

In the United States, the surname FitzGerald can be found across the country, but is most commonly located in urban areas including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey also have relatively high concentrations of individuals with the last name. According to the US Census, more than 8,000 families in the United States use the last name FitzGerald.

The FitzGeralds have had a long and tumultuous history in Ireland. It is thought that the original family came to Ireland in the 12th century and were granted vast swathes of land from then-king of England, Henry II. Over the centuries, the family established themselves as one of the most powerful and influential in the country and had four generations of Irish earls under their name. Today, the last name FitzGerald is still used widely throughout Ireland as a sign of the family’s heritage.

Variations of the surname FitzGerrald

The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for Fitzgerald include FitzGerald, FitzGerrald, Fitz Geralds, Fitzagarald, FitzGeralds, Fitzgaralds, Fitgerald, Giraldi, Gilardoni, Geraldes, Geraldine, Geraldini, Geraldos, Geralds, Geraldy, Gerahlds, Gerlach, Giraldi, Giraldo, Giraldos, Giraud, Girault, Giraudy, Girouard, Gerald, Gerlick, Gerlich, Gerrall, Garold, Gearlds, Gebhardt, Jarold and Jarolt.

Fitz means ‘son of’ in Old French and FitzGerrald is the patronymic form of the surname “Gerald”. Therefore, most variants of the name refer to the same ancestor and are all related. The FitzGerald family is an Irish Hiberno-Norman dynasty. Records show that the name has a long history in the British Isles, so there is no single ‘original’ spelling of the surname. The most common variant is FitzGerald, but there are other spellings in use. Each version has different spellings and ways to spell it in Latin languages, such as Gerardus in Latin or Geraldes in Spanish.

Most people with the surname FitzGerrald descend from the same Gaelic clan and family whose roots go back to medieval times. They are believed to have descended from a Norman family called de Geraldini, who were given lands in Ireland by the Norman king of England, who wanted to expand Norman rule. Over the centuries, the surname has been used and changed in various countries, from the English FitzGeralds to the German Gerlachs.

Famous people with the name FitzGerrald

• F. Scott Fitzgerald: Novelist and short story writer, most famous for his works The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night, and The Beautiful and the Damned.
• Zelda Fitzgerald: American novelist, socialite, and artist, famously known as the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Maureen FitzGerald: American journalist and broadcaster, best known for her more than 20 years of work for CBS News.
• Barry Fitzgerald: Irish stage, film, and television actor, best remembered for his roles on stage and film in the 1940s and 1950s.
• John 'Honey Fitz' Fitzgerald: American politician who served as the Mayor of Boston from 1906 to 1908 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1895 to 1901.
• Geraldine Fitzgerald: Irish-American actress best known for her role as Mary Tyrone in the 1973 Oscar-nominated film, Long Day's Journey Into Night
• Michael FitzGerald: Australian actor, best known for his roles in films such as Till Human Voices Wake Us and on television shows like Home and Away.
• Edward FitzGerald: English poet and writer best remembered for writing the poem 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam'.
• Mary FitzGerald: American author and journalist, best known for her books about religion and world cultures.
• Michael FitzGerald: Irish global health advocate and doctor, best known for founding WE-Strive, an organization that focuses on providing access to healthcare for all people.

Other surnames

Fitzgerrold