Gender: Boy
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Son of Gerald
Popularity: Not in the U.S. top 1,000 names
Fitzgerald Name Meaning and Origin
Fitzgerald is a name meaning "son of Gerald", from Irish origin.
Fitzgerald is of Irish origin and is traditionally used as a surname, though it has also become a given name. It is derived from the Old French "fils de Gerald", meaning "son of Gerald." The name Gerald itself comes from the Germanic elements "ger", meaning "spear," and "wald", meaning "rule" or "power." Therefore, Fitzgerald essentially means "son of the ruler with the spear." The surname became prominent in Ireland after the Norman conquest in the 12th century, when the Fitzgerald family played a significant role in Irish history, especially in the Anglo-Irish nobility. While predominantly used by males, it has been adopted as a first name for both boys and girls in modern times, though it is still more common for males.