Surname Fitzen - Meaning and Origin
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Fitzen: What does the surname Fitzen mean?
The surname Fitzen is of English origin, derived from the Old French word “fitz” meaning “son of”. It was typically used as a patronymic surname, indicating the son of a father whose first name began with “fitz”. As England began to form itself as a nation in the Middle Ages, these Fitzen surnames would have been very common due to its widespread use.
The literal meaning of Fitzen is the “son of a fitz” - where fitz is an Old French term of endearment meaning son. It was typically used to refer to someone’s father, grandfather or an ancestor, and the family name Fitzen was carried down through generations, although many families adopted different variations of the surname, such as Fitsen, Fitz and Fijsen.
The Fitzen surname can be found in many parts of the world, including England, the United States and Australia. In the US, some of the earliest branches of the family tree belong to Benjamin and Richard Fitzen, who emigrated from England to America in the late 1700s. Over the years, the Fitzen family has grown to include many members, with numerous descendants now carrying the Fitzen name.
Today, there may be many people with the Fitzen surname, and for those with the surname, it likely carries a sense of pride, linking them to their ancestors who first took the name. To them, the name serves as a connection to their past and their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisFitzen: Where does the name Fitzen come from?
The last name Fitzen is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other areas in the vicinity where German descent is found. This could include parts of Austria, Switzerland, France, and Sweden.
In Germany, the surname Fitzen is derived from the nickname “Fitz”, which is a version of the Latin word for “son” used in German-speaking regions. Thus, Fitzen is basically a patronymic name meaning “son of” a particular ancestor.
In the Netherlands, the last name Fitzen is found mainly in the southern and western regions, with the majority of bearers located in the Dutch province of Brabant.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Fitzen surname is sometimes spelled with an “-s” at the end (“Fitzens”). This variant is typically found in Switzerland, France, and870 Sweden.
In North America, the Fitzen surname is found primarily in the United States and Canada, which is home to descendants of German immigrants who emigrated to the continent in the 18th and 19th centuries. The majority of this population is based on the east coast or in parts of the Midwest.
Aside from Europe and North America, bearers of the Fitzen surname can also be found in most countries with significant German descendant populations, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Overall, the Fitzen surname continues to be found in many places around the world today.
Variations of the surname Fitzen
The surname Fitzen is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Fitz, which comes from the Norman word for "son", fils. It has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, each variant with its own history and meaning.
The most common Fitzen spelling variants include Fixton, Fitzhugh, Fitspatrick, Fitzsimmons, Fitsgerald, Fitzsimon, Fitzgibbon, Fitzrandolph, Fitzwilliam, Fitzclarence, Fitzroy, and Fitzhenry.
Fixton and Fitzhugh are English variants that came from the Middle English word fiches meaning “fitch” (fennel/furze). Fitspatrick is an Irish variant derived from the Gaelic Ó Peatáin, meaning “son of Patrick”. Fitzsimmons is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Suibhne, meaning “son of Simon”. Fitsgerald is a variant of the Irish Gerald, derived from the old German Gebhard. Fitzsimon and Fitzgibbon are derived from the Gaelic Mac Síomón, meaning “son of Simon”. Fitzrandolph is an Anglo Norman form of the Germanic name Randulf, meaning “shield of wolves”. Fitzwilliam is an Anglo-Norman form of the Germanic Wilhelm, meaning “will-helmet”. Fitzclarence is derived from the German brandof “clair”, meaning “plain”. Fitzroy is a form of the French roy, meaning “king”. Fitzhenry is a variant of the French Henre, meaning “home ruler”.
These variants of Fitzen have diverse histories and meanings, but all originated from the Norman word fils and the first family named Fitz, Fitspatrick, whose ancestor was said to have been granted lands in Ireland by an Earl of Ulster around 1170.
Famous people with the name Fitzen
- Daniel Fitzen: German footballer
- Eddie Fitzen: American professional Mixed Martial Artist
- Adeline Fitzen: French opera singer
- Richard Fitzen: German equestrian athlete
- John Fitzen: American football player
- Bernhard Fitzen: Austrian-American sculptor
- Peter Fitzen: Australian politician
- Hans Fitzen: German television presenter and journalist
- Myriam Fitzen: French-German film actress
- Falk von Fitzen: German television series actor
- Alexander Fitzen: Dutch professional basketball player
- Anna Fitzen: German illustrator and comic artist
- Jens Fitzen: German actor and theatre director
- Justin Fitzen: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Robert Fitzen: American professional bodybuilder
- Marianne Fitzen: Danish badminton player
- Tom-Erik Fitzen: Norwegian skier
- Katherine Fitzen: American television writer and producer
- J. Max Fitzen: American college basketball coach
- Petra Fitzen: Danish volleyball player