NameCensus.

UK surname

Fitzgibbons

Derived from an Anglo-Norman French patronymic meaning "son of Gilbert".

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Fitzgibbons surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, up from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, North Hertfordshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fitzgibbons is 182 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.5%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1998

182 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fitzgibbons had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 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 145 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Fitzgibbons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fitzgibbons surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fitzgibbons 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 175 #21,035
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Fitzgibbons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester 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 Sheffield, North Hertfordshire, Cornwall and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 045 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 015 Sheffield
3 North Hertfordshire 004 North Hertfordshire
4 Cornwall 031 Cornwall
5 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fitzgibbons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fitzgibbons

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fitzgibbons, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Fitzgibbons surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Fitzgibbons household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fitzgibbons 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

Fitzgibbons is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fitzgibbons falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fitzgibbons 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
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fitzgibbons

The surname FITZGIBBONS is of Irish origin, with origins dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Norman French "fitz," meaning "son of," and the personal name "Gibbon." The personal name Gibbon is thought to have originated from the Old French "Gibbe," meaning "hunchback" or "humped."

The earliest recorded instances of the name FITZGIBBONS can be found in medieval records and manuscripts from Ireland. One notable reference is in the Annals of the Four Masters, which mention a "Gillon FitzGibbon" in the year 1305. These annals were compiled by Irish monks in the 17th century but contain records dating back much earlier.

In the 14th century, the name FITZGIBBONS was associated with the FitzGibbon family, a prominent Anglo-Norman family based in County Limerick, Ireland. The FitzGibbons were significant landowners and played a role in the English conquest of Ireland. A notable member of this family was John FitzGibbon (1537-1599), a lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Another notable figure with the FITZGIBBONS surname was John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare (1749-1802), an Irish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland and was a prominent supporter of the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland.

In the 18th century, the name FITZGIBBONS was sometimes spelled as "FitzGibbon" or "FitzGibon." During this period, the name was also associated with the FitzGibbon family of County Cork, Ireland. A notable member of this branch was Maurice FitzGibbon (1770-1856), an Irish soldier who served in the British Army and fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

Other historical figures with the FITZGIBBONS surname include Gerald FitzGibbon (1793-1882), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland, and John FitzGibbon (1837-1909), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Mayo.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fitzgibbons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fitzgibbons 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 42 Fitzgibbons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 42 5.13x
Yorkshire 9 1.11x
Cheshire 7 3.87x
Lancashire 6 0.62x
Lanarkshire 4 1.51x
Fife 3 6.19x
Kent 3 1.07x
Surrey 2 0.50x
Sussex 2 1.45x
Devon 1 0.59x
Glamorgan 1 0.70x
Gloucestershire 1 0.62x
Hampshire 1 0.60x
Royal Navy 1 10.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 24 Fitzgibbons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.87x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 24 54.87x
Birkenhead 7 48.58x
Barony 4 5.97x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 51.81x
Hendon 4 135.59x
Deptford St Paul 3 13.91x
Kinghorn 3 291.26x
Limehouse London 3 33.37x
Brighton 2 7.18x
Holy Trinity 2 10.25x
Hunslet 2 15.80x
Kensington London 2 4.39x
Kirkdale 2 12.23x
Leeds 2 4.36x
Rawmarsh 2 69.69x
Shadwell London 2 87.34x
St Pancras London 2 3.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 6.61x
Clerkenwell London 1 5.17x
Farnborough 1 56.82x
Hackney London 1 2.18x
Lambeth 1 1.40x
Mile End Old Town London 1 5.74x
Royal Navy 1 11.99x
Sheffield 1 3.87x
Shoreditch London 1 2.82x
Stoke Damerel 1 8.38x
Swansea Town 1 8.55x
Whitechapel London 1 12.39x
Woking 1 41.49x
Worcester St Martin 1 69.44x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
James 6
Henry 2
John 2
Michael 2
Thomas 2
Caurice 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Johon 1
Mitchell 1
Morrice 1
Patrick 1

FAQ

Fitzgibbons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fitzgibbons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Fitzgibbons surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fitzgibbons surname today?

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

What does the Fitzgibbons surname mean?

Derived from an Anglo-Norman French patronymic meaning "son of Gilbert".

What does the Fitzgibbons map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fitzgibbons 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.