Fitzgerald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 
  England 


The Strongbownians added their own naming traditions to the eastern region of Ireland to which they arrived. The impact of this new tradition was not extremely disruptive to the pre-existing Irish tradition because the two had many similarities. Both cultures made significant use of hereditary surnames. And like the Irish, the Strongbownians often used prefixes to build patronymic surnames, which are names based on the given name of the initial bearer's father or another older relative. Strongbow's followers often created names that were built with the prefix Fitz-, which was derived from the French word fils, and ultimately from the Latin filius, both of which mean son. They also used diminutive suffixes such as "-ot," "-et," "-un," "-in," or "-el," and occasionally even two suffixes combined to form a double diminutive such as "-el-in," "-el-ot," "-in-ot," and "-et-in," to build patronymic names. The surname Fitzgerald is derived from the Norman personal name Gerald, which consists of the Germanic elements "geri" or "gari," which mean "spear," and "wald," which means "rule." The name features the distinctive Irish patronymic prefix fitz, which means son of in Anglo-French. This is derived from the Old French word "fils," which ultimately comes from the Latin word "filius." The Gaelic form of the surname Fitzgerald is "Mac Gerailt."

Early Origins of the Fitzgerald family

The surname Fitzgerald was first found in Munster, where they were granted lands by the Earl of Pembroke during his invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Saint and Bishop Gerald (d. 731), of Magh Eo, now Mayo, "was, according to the life published by the Bollandists, and attributed by Colgan to Augustin Magraidin (1405), a monk from the neighbourhood of Winchester, who, with some companions, migrated to Ireland, in order to lead a solitary life. Another account connects his leaving England with the defeat of St. Colman, bishop of Lindisfarne, at the conference at Whitby on the Easter question. The party landed in Connaught and made their way northward to Sligo. Gerald built a church in Mayo which he called Cill n-ailither, or the Church of the Pilgrims." 1

Otho Geraldino, one of the chief commanders of Williams the Conqueror landed in England at the time of the Conquest and was created a Baron for his efforts. As Norman constable of Pembroke, South Wales, he went into Ireland with Strongbow in the Anglo-Norman invasion. Two generations later, Maurice was the first to use the name Fitzgerald. He was granted lands in Munster in the south of Ireland. 2

Maurice Fitzgerald (d. 1176), was the Welsh conqueror of Ireland, "the son Nesta, daughter of Rhys the Great, king of South Wales. He was thus half-brother to Robert Fitzstephen and Meiler Fitzhenry, and brother of David II, Bishop of St. David's. His father Gerald, according to later genealogists, was grandson of Walter Fitzother, who figures in 'Domesday' as a tenant at Windsor and elsewhere, and lord of manors in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Middlesex, and Buckinghamshire." 1

Early History of the Fitzgerald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fitzgerald research. Another 332 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1316, 1333, 1398, 1411, 1487, 1513, 1528, 1534, 1537, 1589, 1612, 1634, 1660, 1661, 1664, 1716, 1809 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Fitzgerald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fitzgerald Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Fitzgerald, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Fitzgerald, Geraldines, Desmond, Gerald, Geralds and others.

Early Notables of the Fitzgerald family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Fitzgerald World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fitzgerald is the 417th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Fitzgerald is ranked the 658th most popular surname with an estimated 7,896 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Fitzgerald is the 73rd popular surname with an estimated 366 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Fitzgerald as 156th with 19,209 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Fitzgerald as 257th with 2,363 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Fitzgerald as 523rd with 12,596 people. 8


Fitzgerald migration to the United States +

Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Fitzgerald:

Fitzgerald Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Fitzgerald Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Fitzgerald Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Fitzgerald Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Fitzgerald migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fitzgerald Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Fitzgerald Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Fitzgerald migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fitzgerald Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Fitzgerald Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Fitzgerald migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Fitzgerald Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Fitzgerald (post 1700) +


The Fitzgerald Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Crom aboo
Motto Translation: Crom for ever.


Suggested Readings for the name Fitzgerald +
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