Fitzpatrick (surname)

Fitzpatrick (/fɪtsˈpætrɪk/ ^ⓘ) is an Irish surname that most commonly arose as an anglicised version of the Irish patronymic surname Mac Giolla Phádraig (Irish: [mˠak ɟɪl̪ˠə fˠaːd̪ˠɾˠɪɟ])[1] "Son of the Devotee of (St.) Patrick".[2]

In some cases, it may also have independently arisen by a similar anglicization of a likely-distinct Irish patronymic, Ó Maol Phádraig,[3] "Descendent of the Follower of (St.) Patrick", or in rare cases as a genuine Anglo-Irish patronymic[1] incorporating the Norman French fiz ('son of') and the male name Patrick.

Giolla Phádraig (meaning "the devotee of [Saint] Patrick", also one of origins of the surname Kilpatrick) was the personal name of Gilla Patráic mac Donnchada, a tenth-century king of Ossory. His sons were subsequently styled Mac Giolla Phádraig (meaning, son of Giolla Phádraig), and gave rise to a dynasty of Kings of Ossory that bore this patronymic as a dynastic name. In the 16th century, as part of the process of king Henry VIII's surrender and regrant scheme to anglicize the Irish nobility, some members of the clan were legally obligated to render their surname as Fitz-Patrick or Fitzpatrick as part of the agreed terms with the Crown. The Fitzpatrick surname may have also been adopted later amongst other unrelated Irish families, such as the Maguires of Fermanagh.[1] Like the related Kilpatrick and Mulpatrick, the surname was sometimes shortened to Patrick.[1]

The 1901 census of Ireland indicated the top five counties for the surname Fitzpatrick, by birth, were County Cavan, followed by counties Laois, Dublin, Down and Cork.[4] Since 2019, the Fitzpatrick Clan Society has facilitated the registration of five Fitzpatrick clans with Clans of Ireland: the Mac Gilpatrick of Ulster – Mac Giolla Phádraig Ulaidh; the Fitzpatrick / O'Mulpatrick of Breifne – Ó Maol Phádraig Breifne; the Fitzpatrick / Mac Gilpatrick of the tribe of Cas – Mac Giolla Phádraig Dál gCais; the Fitzpatrick / Mac Gilpatrick of Leinster – Mac Giolla Phádraig Laighean; and, the Fitzpatrick of Upper Ossory.