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Irish surname

Fitzpatrick: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Giolla Phádraig · 'son of Giolla Phádraig' (servant of St. Patrick)

Despite the 'Fitz', Fitzpatrick is a Gaelic name: Woulfe (1923) gives it as an anglicised form of Mac Giolla Phádraig, 'son of Giolla Phádraig' (servant of St. Patrick). The principal family were the MacGillapatricks, or Fitzpatricks, of Ossory. In Matheson's 1890 survey Fitzpatrick was 61st among Irish surnames, with about 11,100 people.

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Coat of arms associated with the Fitzpatrick surname
Irish formMac Giolla Phádraig
Meaning'son of Giolla Phádraig' (servant of St. Patrick)
CountiesKilkenny, Laois, Cavan, Clare
Other spellings7

Origin of the Fitzpatrick name

Woulfe: the principal family were the MacGillapatricks, or Fitzpatricks, of Ossory, named from Giolla Phádraig, son of Donnchadh, lord of Ossory, in the 10th century. They once ruled all Co. Kilkenny and part of Leix; after the Anglo-Norman invasion the Butlers and other settlers confined them to the barony of Upper Ossory.[1]

  1. 10th centuryGiolla Phádraig, son of Donnchadh, lord of Ossory, gives the family its name.[1]
  2. 1541Brian Mac Giolla Patrick created Baron of Upper Ossory.[1]
  3. 1558Sir Barnaby FitzPatrick knighted for bravery at the siege of Leith.[2]
  4. 1581Sir Barnaby FitzPatrick, Lord of Upper Ossory, dies in Dublin, 11 September.[2]
  5. 1727Naval commander Richard FitzPatrick, Lord Gowran, dies 9 June.[3]
  6. 1890Fitzpatrick is 61st among Irish surnames, about 11,100 people.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. KilkennyIn early times the whole county was ruled by the MacGillapatricks of Ossory.[1]
Co. LaoisWoulfe: they once ruled part of the present Leix (now Laois). Queen's County was a leading county for the name in 1890.[1][5][6]
Co. CavanA branch settled here; among the leading Ulster counties for the name in 1890.[1][5]
Co. ClareWoulfe records a branch of the family settled here.[1]
Co. LeitrimWoulfe records a branch of the family settled here.[1]

Notable people named Fitzpatrick

Sir Barnaby FitzPatrickd. 1581Lord of Upper Ossory from about 1550; friend of Edward VI; knighted 1558 at the siege of Leith.[2]
Richard FitzPatrick, Lord Gowrand. 1727Naval commander born at Castletown; created Baron Gowran on the accession of George I.[3]

Other spellings

MacGillapatrick · MacGilpatrick · Gilpatrick · Kilpatrick · Kirkpatrick · MacIlfatrick · MacElfatrick[1]

Scottish connection

Woulfe lists Kirkpatrick and Kilpatrick among the anglicised forms of Mac Giolla Phádraig and adds: 'There appears to have been also a Scottish family of this name.'[1]

The Fitzpatrick coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Fitzpatrick surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Fitzpatrick crest gifts

Clan Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapMI80 Classic Cap - Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap MT49 Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Fitzpatrick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Fitzpatrick surname: questions

Is Fitzpatrick an Irish or a Norman name?

Irish. Woulfe gives Fitzpatrick as an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Phádraig, 'son of Giolla Phádraig', the name of the MacGillapatricks of Ossory.[1]

What does Fitzpatrick mean?

Woulfe: 'son of Giolla Phádraig', and Giolla Phádraig means 'servant of St. Patrick'.[1]

Where in Ireland is Fitzpatrick from?

Ossory. Woulfe says the MacGillapatricks once ruled all Co. Kilkenny and part of Leix, and were later confined to the barony of Upper Ossory; branches settled in Clare, Cavan, Leitrim and elsewhere.[1]

Are Kirkpatrick and Kilpatrick the same name as Fitzpatrick?

Woulfe lists Kilpatrick, Kirkpatrick and Gilpatrick among the anglicised forms of Mac Giolla Phádraig, and notes there appears to have been also a Scottish family of the name.[1]

Sources

  1. Mac Giolla Phádraig — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-giolla-phadraig.php
  2. Sir Barnaby FitzPatrick — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirBarnabyFitzPatrick.php
  3. Richard FitzPatrick, Lord Gowran — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/RichardFitzPatrickLordGowran.php
  4. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  5. Fitzpatrick — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/fitzpatrick.php
  6. Laois — Placenames Database of Ireland (historical English name Leix; 1603: 'Queen's County alias Leax'), logainm.ie (Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU / Department of Culture). logainm.ie/en/100017

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).