Fitz

/fɪts/ noun

Definition

A prefix or name component meaning 'son of' in surnames, commonly seen in Irish and Norman surnames like Fitzgerald or FitzRoy.

Etymology

From Norman French 'fitz,' derived from Old French 'fils' meaning 'son.' When Norman French speakers settled in Ireland and England, they used this prefix to indicate lineage, creating surnames that lasted for centuries.

Kelly Says

This tiny word reveals the history of the Norman conquest—when French nobles took over England in 1066, they brought their naming system with them, and we still use their 'son of' prefix in surnames today!

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