NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitz

Derived from a Norman French prefix meaning "son of," indicating illegitimate descent from a nobleman.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Fitz surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Upton Noble, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Dover and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitz is 176 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.1%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2016

176 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitz had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 167 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fitz surname distribution map

The map shows where the Fitz surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Fitz surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitz over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 95 #17,707
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 117 #25,362
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 120 #24,615
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Fitz' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Upton Noble, London parishes, St Marylebone, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Dover, Sevenoaks and Waverley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Upton Noble Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
2 Dover 013 Dover
3 Sevenoaks 002 Sevenoaks
4 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
5 Waverley 009 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitz

These lists show first names that appear often with the Fitz surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitz

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fitz, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fitz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fitz household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fitz is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fitz is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fitz falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fitz is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fitz, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fitz

The surname "FITZ" is an Anglo-Norman French word derived from the Old French "fils" meaning "son". It was originally used as a prefix to denote illegitimate sons of kings or noblemen. The earliest known records of the name date back to the 11th century in England, following the Norman conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Entries in the Domesday Book include individuals such as Fitz Gilbert and Fitz Walter.

By the 12th century, the use of "Fitz" as a surname had become more widespread, with many prominent figures bearing the name. One notable example is Robert FitzWalter (c.1162-1235), a powerful baron and leader of the baronial rebellion against King John in the early 13th century.

Another famous bearer of the surname was William FitzPatrick (c.1105-1185), a Norman lord who became the first Baron of Upper Ossory in Ireland. His descendants adopted the anglicized surname "Fitzpatrick" and became a powerful Anglo-Norman family in Ireland.

In Scotland, the surname "FitzAlan" was prominent among the Norman nobility. One of the most notable figures was Walter FitzAlan (c.1105-1177), a Breton knight who became the first High Steward of Scotland and progenitor of the Stewart/Stuart dynasty of Scottish kings.

The surname "FitzGerald" also has its roots in Anglo-Norman nobility, with the first recorded bearer being Walter FitzOtho (c.1110-1177), a Norman constable of Windsor Castle. His son, Gerald FitzWalter (c.1150-1204), was the progenitor of the powerful FitzGerald dynasty in Ireland, which included several Earls of Kildare and Earls of Desmond.

Throughout history, the spelling of "Fitz" has varied, with variations such as "Fitz," "Fitz," "Fitz," and "Fitz" all being used. The prefix was often combined with a father's name or place of origin, leading to the formation of many unique surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitz surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 29 Fitz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 2.01x
Lancashire 16 0.93x
Warwickshire 15 4.12x
Wiltshire 15 11.75x
Somerset 14 6.03x
Kent 12 2.44x
Essex 11 3.86x
Surrey 7 1.00x
Ayrshire 6 5.55x
Gloucestershire 6 2.12x
Durham 4 0.93x
Devon 3 1.00x
Cheshire 2 0.63x
Hampshire 2 0.68x
Cornwall 1 0.61x
Leicestershire 1 0.62x
Northamptonshire 1 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.51x
Royal Navy 1 5.81x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 13 Fitz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.97x.

Place Total Index
Aston 13 12.97x
Beckenham 11 170.81x
Warminster 10 357.14x
Bethnal Green London 8 12.76x
Upton Noble 8 7272.73x
Halstead 7 210.84x
Oldham 7 12.66x
Irvine 6 200.00x
Kensington London 5 6.23x
Witham Friary 5 2083.33x
Hartlepool 4 65.57x
Liverpool 4 3.85x
Rotherhithe 4 22.43x
St Pancras London 4 3.44x
Chelsea London 3 6.90x
Clifton 3 20.96x
Lambeth 3 2.38x
Manchester 3 3.89x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 146.34x
Aldershot 2 20.18x
Birmingham 2 1.65x
Bromley London 2 6.30x
Fisherton Anger 2 84.75x
Plymouth Charles The 2 15.11x
St Marylebone London 2 2.60x
Toxteth Park 2 3.45x
West Ham 2 3.18x
Basford 1 11.15x
Belgrave 1 27.70x
Braintree 1 39.06x
Bristol St Peter 1 99.01x
Charterhouse Hinton 1 370.37x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.94x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 25.58x
Eaton In Chester 1 1428.57x
Higher Bebington 1 49.02x
Islington London 1 0.71x
Maker 1 66.23x
Middlesbrough 1 5.37x
Northampton All Sts 1 21.69x
Ridgwell 1 312.50x
Royal Navy 1 6.80x
Slapton 1 322.58x
Spitalfields London 1 9.21x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 16.00x
St George In East London 1 7.36x
Stapleton 1 18.62x
Westbury On Trym 1 10.43x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fitz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 12
Ellen 4
Margaret 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Alda 1
Arabella 1
Eda 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
I. 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Katie 1
Lavina 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Priscilla 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fitz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Fitz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Fitz surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Fitz a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Fitz surname mean?

Derived from a Norman French prefix meaning "son of," indicating illegitimate descent from a nobleman.

What does the Fitz map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fitz bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.