fitz

Fitz is a prefix and given name with historical and contemporary uses. Etymologically, it derives from the Old French phrase fils de, meaning “son of.” In medieval England and Ireland, the prefix was abbreviated as Fitz- and attached to a father’s name to form a surname meaning “son of,” a pattern that survives in many modern names.

As a surname prefix, Fitz- appears in numerous Irish and Anglo-Norman lineages. Common examples include Fitzpatrick (son of Patrick), FitzGerald (descendant of Gerald), Fitzsimmons, Fitzwilliam, and Fitzhugh. The FitzGerald dynasty, in particular, became a prominent noble lineage in Ireland, supplying several earls and ducal titles. In everyday usage, Fitz- appears in many unrelated surnames such as Fitzsimmons and Fitzroy, illustrating the diverse modern inheritance of the prefix.

In contemporary use, Fitz also functions as a given name or nickname. It is often a shortened form of Fitzgerald or other names beginning with Fitz-, and it is sometimes used independently. In popular culture, the name appears for several fictional characters, including Leopold “Fitz” Fitz in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Fitzgerald Grant, commonly called Fitz, the president in Shonda Rhimes’s Scandal.

Overall, Fitz reflects a historical method of signaling patronymic origin in surnames and has persisted as a standalone name or nickname in modern times, maintaining cultural associations with heritage and lineage across English-speaking societies.