What is "fitz"

Fitz \Fitz\, n. [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. See Filial.] A son; -- used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp. of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes of the blood; as, Fitzroy, the son of the king; Fitzclarence, the son of the duke of Clarence.

Anglo-French fitz, from Old French fils, from Latin filius "son of" (see filial); used regularly in official rolls and hence the first element of many modern surnames; in later times used of illegitimate issue of royalty.

Fitz is a prefix to patronymic surnames of Anglo-Norman origin.

Fitz may also refer to:

Fitz (pronounced "fits") is a prefix in patronymic surnames of Anglo-Norman origin, that is to say originating in the 11th century. The word is a Norman French noun meaning "son of", from Latin filius (son), plus genitive case of the father's forename. Whilst Fitz is now the standard form used by modern historians the word appears in ancient documents with various spellings such as fiz, filz, etc. The word has developed in modern French to fils de, with which it is thus cognate.

Fitz is a male given name which may refer to:

• Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. (1923–2006), American educator, sportsman and philanthropist
• Fitz W. Guerin (1846-1903), American photographer and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient
• Fitz Hall (born 1980), English soccer player
• Fitz Henry Lane (1804-1865), American painter and printmaker born Nathaniel Rogers Lane
• Fitz Lee (Medal of Honor) (1866-1899), African-American United States Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
• Fitz Hugh Ludlow (1836-1870), American author, journalist, and explorer, best known for his autobiographical book The Hasheesh Eater
• Fitz James O'Brien (1828-1862), Irish-born American writer
• Fitz John Porter (1822-1901), Union Army general in the American Civil War
• Fitz Remedios Santana de Souza (born 1929), Kenyan lawyer and politician
• Fitz Henry Warren (1816-1878), American politician and Union Army general

Fitz is the surname of:

• Ann Fitz, American attorney
• Brent Fitz, Canadian-American musician
• Hendrikje Fitz (1961-2016), German actress
• Henry Fitz (1808-1863), American telescope manufacturer
• Joseph Fitz (1886-1945), American Medal of Honor recipient
• Josef-August Fitz (1911-1977), highly decorated German World War II officer
• Reginald Heber Fitz (1843-1913), American physician
• Veronika Fitz (born 1936), German television actress
• Willy Fitz (1918–1993), Austrian footballer and coach