UK surname
The son of Gerald, from the Irish surname prefix "Fitz" meaning son.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Fitzgearld surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, St Bees and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitzgearld is 187 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
187 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fitzgearld surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fitzgearld 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 | 3 | #32,890 |
| 1861 | historical | 187 | #12,690 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 151 | #18,242 |
| 1901 | historical | 16 | #32,260 |
| 1911 | historical | 8 | #32,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, St Bees, Christ Church Spitalfields, St George in the East and Arlecdon. 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 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 3 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Arlecdon | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fitzgearld 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 Fitzgearld, 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 Fitzgearld surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fitzgearld 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, Fitzgearld 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 Fitzgearld is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fitzgearld, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fitzgerald is an Anglo-Norman hereditary surname that originated in Ireland. It is derived from the French words "fils," meaning "son," and "Gerald," a personal name of Germanic origin. The name can be traced back to the 12th century, when the Normans first arrived in Ireland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Domesday Book," a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Fitz-Gerald," referring to the son of a man named Gerald who held lands in various parts of England at the time.
As the Anglo-Norman influence spread in Ireland, the Fitzgerald family established themselves as one of the most powerful and influential families in the country. They played a significant role in the Norman conquest of Ireland and were granted extensive lands and titles by the English Crown.
The Fitzgeralds were closely associated with the counties of Kildare and Desmond in Ireland. One of the most notable members of the family was Gerald FitzGerald, the 3rd Earl of Desmond, who lived from 1335 to 1398 and was a prominent military leader during the Hundred Years' War.
Another famous Fitzgerald was Thomas FitzGerald, the 10th Earl of Kildare, who lived from 1513 to 1537. He was known as the "Silken Thomas" and led a rebellion against the English Crown, which ultimately led to his execution.
In the 16th century, the Fitzgeralds were involved in numerous conflicts and uprisings against English rule in Ireland. One of the most notable figures from this period was Gerald FitzGerald, the 16th Earl of Desmond, who lived from 1533 to 1583. He led a prolonged rebellion against the English Crown, which became known as the Desmond Rebellions.
Throughout history, the Fitzgerald name has been associated with various place names in Ireland, including Kildare, Desmond, and Maynooth. The name has also been spelled in various ways, such as FitzGerald, FitzGerold, and FitzGarret.
Other notable individuals with the surname Fitzgerald include Edward FitzGerald (1809-1883), an English writer and translator best known for his translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), the legendary American jazz singer often referred to as the "First Lady of Song."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitzgearld 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Fitzgearlds recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 8.97x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 8.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Limehouse London in Middlesex leads with 7 Fitzgearlds recorded in 1881 and an index of 813.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Limehouse London | 7 | 813.95x |
| Elswick | 1 | 107.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fitzgearld 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 Fitzgearld 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 Fitzgearld households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Bricklayer Unemployed | 1 |
| General Ser | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Fitzgearld surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Fitzgearld a modern rank of #38,110.
The son of Gerald, from the Irish surname prefix "Fitz" meaning son.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fitzgearld 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.