Surname Fitzgerald - Meaning and Origin

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X. Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald: What does the surname Fitzgerald mean?

The last name Fitzgerald is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Gearailt" which means "son of Gerald." Gerald itself is a Germanic name, composed of the elements "ger," meaning "spear," and "wald," meaning "rule." Therefore, the literal translation of Fitzgerald would be "son of the spear-ruler." The name was brought to Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century. Over time, it became one of the most influential and widespread names in Ireland. The name carries a rich history and is associated with powerful clans in Irish history such as the Desmond Geraldines of South Munster and Kildare Geraldines of Leinster. Despite its Irish origins, the name Fitzgerald is now common in many English-speaking countries.

Fitzgerald: Where does the name Fitzgerald come from?

The last name Fitzgerald is of Irish origin. It was derived from the Old Norman personal name "Gerald" which means "rule of the spear" combining the elements "geri" or "gari" (spear) and "wald" (rule). The prefix "Fitz-" is a Norman French term meaning "son of". Hence, Fitzgerald literally means "son of Gerald".

The surname was introduced to Ireland during the 12th century, as the Normans successfully invaded the region. Notably, the Fitzgeralds became one of the most powerful families in Irish history. Two branches of the clan - the Earls of Desmond and the Earls of Kildare - particularly, dominated the socio-political landscape of medieval and early modern Ireland.

Today, the surname is most common in Ireland and spread to other English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Despite its Norman origins, the Fitzgerald name is a classic example of a Hiberno-Norman surname fully integrated into the Irish surnames. Notable individuals with the last name Fitzgerald include the legendary American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and acclaimed American author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Variations of the surname Fitzgerald

The surname Fitzgerald originates from Ireland and is one of the most distinguished Irish surnames. This surname is derived from the personal name "Gerald," which is composed of the Germanic elements "geri" or "gari" meaning spear and "wald" meaning rule. It was introduced into Ireland during the Norman Invasion of 1170.

Variants include Gerald, Geraldson, Geraldsonne, Fitzgeralds, and FitzGerald. The name can also be found in combinations like FitzGerald-Lombard and MacGerailt in Gaelic. FitzGerald is also sometimes modified to MacGearailt in Irish Gaelic and MacGerailt in Scottish Gaelic.

The English version of the surname is often spelt as Fitzgerold or Fitzjerald while the French version can be found as FizGéraud or Fitz-Girard.

In terms of spelling variations, it could be spelled as Fitzgerard, Fitzgerrard, or FitzGerrot due to phonetic spelling changes over centuries and regional accents.

It's important to note that not all people with the Fitzgerald surname share a common ancestry. Other families may have chosen the name because they admired the FitzGeralds, wanted to blend in with them, or needed to change their original surname for some reason.

Famous people with the name Fitzgerald

• F. Scott Fitzgerald: An iconic American author known for writing "The Great Gatsby."
• Ella Fitzgerald: A world-renowned American jazz singer, often referred to as the "First Lady of Song."
• Larry Fitzgerald: A prominent American professional football player who spent his career with the Arizona Cardinals.
• Geraldine Fitzgerald: An Irish-American actress, well-known for roles in classic films like "Wuthering Heights" and "Dark Victory."
• Garret Fitzgerald: A former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland.
• Lord Edward Fitzgerald: An Irish revolutionary in the 1700s.
• Zelda Fitzgerald: An American socialite, novelist, and wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Barry Fitzgerald: An Irish stage, film and television actor who won an Academy Award for his role in "Going My Way."
• Frances Fitzgerald: An Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Tánaiste, and as Minister for Justice and Equality.
• John Fitzgerald: A former professional tennis player from Australia who won several Grand Slam titles in Doubles.
• Patrick Fitzgerald: A prominent American attorney and former U.S. federal prosecutor.
• George Fitzgerald: An English electronic music producer and DJ.
• Michael Fitzgerald: An Irish actor best known for his role in "The Elephant Man".

Other surnames

FitzGerraldFitzgerrold