UK surname
Son of the relic reeve or keeper of a relic chest.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Fitzerald surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitzerald is 140 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.4%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1891
140 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fitzerald surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fitzerald surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 97 | #17,484 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 140 | #19,193 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, St Giles-in-the-Fields, Manchester, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fitzerald surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fitzerald, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fitzerald surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fitzerald household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fitzerald is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fitzerald is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fitzerald, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fitzgerald originates from Ireland and dates back to the Norman invasion of the 12th century. It is an Anglo-Norman name derived from the French phrase "fils Gerald," meaning "son of Gerald." The name Gerald itself comes from the Germanic elements "gair" (spear) and "wald" (rule), suggesting a meaning of "ruler with a spear."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fitzgerald can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as the Norman French form "FitzGerald." This record refers to a landowner in England who was likely of Anglo-Norman descent and had originated from Ireland.
The Fitzgeralds were among the most prominent Anglo-Norman families in Ireland, tracing their lineage back to Maurice FitzGerald, a baron who participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. Maurice's descendants went on to become powerful landowners and gained the titles of Earls of Kildare and Earls of Desmond.
One notable figure in the history of the Fitzgerald name is Thomas Fitzgerald, Lord of Offaly, who lived from around 1488 to 1537. He was a prominent figure in the rebellion against English rule in Ireland, known as the Silken Thomas Rebellion. Another well-known Fitzgerald was Garret Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, who lived from 1456 to 1513 and served as Lord Deputy of Ireland.
In the literary world, the name Fitzgerald is associated with F. Scott Fitzgerald, the renowned American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1896 to 1940. He is best known for his works such as "The Great Gatsby" and "Tender is the Night."
Other notable individuals with the Fitzgerald surname include Ella Fitzgerald, the influential American jazz singer who lived from 1917 to 1996, and Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Irish revolutionary and leader of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, who lived from 1763 to 1798.
The name Fitzgerald has also been associated with various place names, such as Fitzgeraldstown in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and Fitzgerald's Glen in County Waterford, Ireland, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the Fitzgerald family in these regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitzerald surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 7 Fitzeralds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 7 | 2.88x |
| Surrey | 6 | 6.01x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.46x |
| Denbighshire | 2 | 25.84x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.43x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.51x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 6 Fitzeralds recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 6 | 79.37x |
| Kirkdale | 5 | 122.25x |
| Bow London | 3 | 114.94x |
| Oldham | 2 | 25.51x |
| Wrexham Regis | 2 | 350.88x |
| Barony | 1 | 5.97x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 95.24x |
| Stainforth In Thorne | 1 | 2000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fitzerald surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fitzerald surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fitzerald households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cotton Operative | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Employed By L G O Company (Coach N D) | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Manageress Of Business (Undef) | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Retired Lady | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Fitzerald surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Fitzerald a modern rank of #37,599.
Son of the relic reeve or keeper of a relic chest.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fitzerald bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.