Fitz

Part of speech: noun, prefix

Definitions

1. A prefix of Norman French origin used in surnames to mean "son of" someone; alternatively, a proper noun referring to a family name originating from this prefix; also used as a prefix in historical or genealogical contexts to denote paternal lineage
2. Serving as a hereditary surname component that signifies descent from a paternal ancestor; also functioning as a genealogical marker in names deriving from medieval Norman naming customs; moreover, employed in historical documents to identify male offspring in family lines
3. Indicating lineage by denoting "son of" in surnames of Norman derivation; recognized as part of a proper name indicating family origin; commonly used in historical or genealogical references to show paternal ancestry

Etymology: "Fitz" comes from Anglo-Norman "fiz" (later "fils"), meaning "son," which descends from Latin "filius." The prefix was carried over by Norman-French speakers and became attached to the names of illegitimate or acknowledged sons of royalty and nobility. The best-known example is the Fitzroy family, descended from Charles II's illegitimate children, whose name means "son of the king." Over time, "fitz" moved from a marker of royal or noble paternity into a general surname element. Many English and Irish families with Norman roots bear it, such as Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick and Fitzwilliam. Because the prefix was used so widely, it came to be treated as a name-forming element in its own right rather than a separate word meaning "son."

Synonyms: son of, descendant