Surname Fitzstephen - Meaning and Origin
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Fitzstephen: What does the surname Fitzstephen mean?
The surname Fitzstephen is an Anglicised version of the medieval French phrase “Fils Stephano”, which translates literally as “son of Stephen”. It is believed that the first member of this family was someone named Stephen, who had a son of the same name, thus forming the ‘Fitzstephen’ line.
The Fitzstephen surname is primarily found in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in some parts of mainland Europe. Historically, it was most widely used in southwestern England, particularly in Cornwall. The name is also common amongst families of Norman descent, who settled in Britain in the 11th century and used the surname as a sign of their noble Norman ancestry.
In addition, many variants of the name exist, such as Fitz-Stephens, MacStephen, Fitz Stephens and Fitz Stevens. These variations are often found in families of Welsh, Irish, Scottish or French descent, and may indicate such an origin.
In conclusion, the surname Fitzstephen is likely of Norman French or British origin meaning “son of Stephen”. It is most frequently found in families from southwestern England, as well as some from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia. Variations of the name are also quite common, such as Fitz-Stephens, MacStephen, Fitz Stephens and Fitz Stevens.
Order DNA origin analysisFitzstephen: Where does the name Fitzstephen come from?
The surname Fitzstephen is most commonly found in Ireland today. This surname originated in medieval England. The name is derived from the Norman term 'fils', which means 'son', added to the Middle English given name 'Stephen'. Historically, many people with this surname were courtiers and servants to English nobility.
Using modern genealogical records, we can trace this surname back to several areas of Ireland, particularly around County Cork in the south, where its presence dates back at least to the 19th century. Fitzstephen families have also been recorded in Dublin, Galway, Wexford, Sligo and other parts of the east.
More recently, the Fitzstephen name is becoming increasingly common in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, thanks to the influx of immigrants from Ireland.
The name Fitzstephen is also quite popular among the Irish diaspora in the Caribbean, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. So the surname can be found in dozens of countries, a testament to the global reach of Irish ancestry.
To this day, the Fitzstephen surname serves as a reminder of the strong Irish connections that spread across the world. The surname Fitzstephen is a strong link to the past, a proud connection to one's Irish roots.
Variations of the surname Fitzstephen
The surname Fitzstephen is derived from Old French and can have multiple spelling variants and associated surnames. Some of the more common variations on the spelling are Fitzsteven, Fytzstephen, Fitzstevyn, Fitzstephyn, Fitzstephene, Fitz Stephen, and Fitz Stevens. The surname is derived from the old Norman French word “fitz” meaning “son of,” combined with the personal name “Stephen.”
The various spelling variations may be due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any consistent spelling rules. Some of the surnames derived from the same root as Fitzstephen include MacStephen, Stieve, Steven, Stephenson, Stephens, Stepanek, Stepanovich, Stepanyan, and Stevenson.
In Ireland, Fitzstephen is a variant of the Gaelic form of this Old Norman French name, MacSteafain, and was first found in county Kerry. Variants of this surname in Scotland include MacSteaphan, MacStivan, and MacStivens.
In Latin, Fitzstephen may be found as “Filizstephanus,” and in Old Germanic it may be “Fritceen.” Other variants of the name in other parts of Europe are many and include Fitzshousen in Germany, Fitzshoenen in Switzerland, and Fitzstilly in Scotland.
Fitzstephen is also the Anglicized form of the Gaelic MacShuibhne and is translated as “son of Stephen.” Other anglicized variants include mac Stephen, mac Steven, and mac Stevenson.
Overall, the numerous variants of the surname Fitzstephen are evidence of the many cultures and languages that have contributed to its origin.
Famous people with the name Fitzstephen
- Henry FitzStephen: a 12th-century English knight and the tutor of King Henry II of England.
- Robert Fitz Stephen: a 12th-century Welsh knight and the first known Cambro-Norman adventurer to participate in the Norman invasion of Ireland.
- Robert Mor FitzStephen: a Cambro-Norman nobleman who played a key role in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169.
- Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan: a Cambro-Norman knight who served as Seneschal of Ireland in the service of King Henry II of England.
- Mathilda FitzStephen: a 12th-century English noblewoman and the wife of Robert Mor FitzStephen.
- William FitzStephen: a 12th-century English priest and biographer of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.
- John FitzStephen: an English soldier, the purported son of Robert FitsStephen.
- Miles FitzStephen: an English naval commander who served Henry II of England in his invasion of Ireland.
- William FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan: the son of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan.
- Sir Maurice FitzMaurice: an Anglo-Irish soldier and the eldest son of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan.