Fitzpatrick (surname)

The arms of the Fitzpatricks (Mac Giolla Phádraig) of Upper Ossory: sable a saltire argent, on a chief azure three fleur-de-lis or

The surname Fitzpatrick is the known translation of at least two different surnames: Mac Giolla Phádraig and Ó Maol Phádraig from the original Irish to English.^[1] Currently, it is ranked as the 60th most common surname in Ireland with an estimated 12,700 individuals bearing the name.^[2] While both Mac Giolla Phádraig and Ó Maol Phádraig have similar meanings, they are likely unrelated; yet both have arrived in the modern era as Fitzpatrick. Despite the prefix "Fitz-", Fitzpatrick is not a name of Hiberno-Norman descent.^[3][4]

History and origins

Giolla Phádraig (means "the devotee of Patrick"). Gilla Patráic mac Donnchada was a tenth century king of Ossory, a kingdom in between Munster and Leinster in Ireland. According to William Carrigan, this kingdom was founded by Aengus Osrithe who flourished some time about the latter half of the 2nd century of the Christian era. Giolla Phádraig's reign commenced some eight centuries later in 976 AD and he reigned until he was slain in 996 AD.^[5] His sons were subsequently styled Mac Giolla Phádraig (meaning, son of Giolla Phádraig).

The Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty were kings of Osraighe whose king was, from the 1540s, known as Baron Upper Ossory. At one time he was royal ruler over the Kingdom of Ossory (today comprising County Kilkenny and the western half of neighbouring Laois). Following the Norman invasion in the late twelfth century, their power was vastly diminished by the activity of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and later of the ascendancy of the Ormond Butlers and other Hiberno-Norman magnates. Although their patrimony was restricted to Upper Ossory, the Mac Giolla Phádraigs were by no means dispossessed of all their property. Brían Óg Mac Giolla Phádraig was the first Irish noble to accept the surrender and regrant terms of Henry VIII, and as a result in 1541, Brian became the first to assume the surname Fitzpatrick in place of Mac Gìolla Phádraig, for which he was created Baron Upper Ossory in the Irish House of Lords. In the 17th century, the Fitzpatricks lost considerable territory through their staunch support of James II. Nevertheless, the head of the sept received a peerage in 1714 as Baron Gowran which was elevated to Earl of Upper Ossory in 1751. A third title Baron Castletown was granted in 1869. Records from 1878 show that no less than 22,000 acres (89 km²) of the finest land in Ossory was owned by the family.

It is suggested that after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland that branches of the Fitzpatrick family settled in Clare, Cavan, Leitrim, and other parts of Ireland.^[6] John Francis Shearman states in the Ossorian genealogical tables within his Loca Patriciana that some of these northern concentrations of Fitzpatricks (Cavan and Leitrim) are descendants from the main Mac Giolla Phádraig stock; many fleeing Ossorians being driven into Connacht after the devastating raids by Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn in 1156.^[7]

http://clanmaclochlainn.com/1659cen.htm In the 1659 "Census of Ireland " the recorded distribution of the surname Fitzpatrick/Killpatrick /O Mulpatrick and Mcllepatricke were as follows :

Fitzpatrick - 184

Co Kilkenny 29 Queens County 139

Co Tipperary 8 Co Meath 8

Killpatrick - 11

Co Antrim 8 Co Fermanagh 3

O Mulpatrick - 22

Co Fermanagh 11 Co Longford. 11

(The census records does not include Co Cavan, where the name O'Mulpatrick was prominent in the 1641 rebellion in Belturbret and the occurrences of the name in the census are in baronies that border Co Cavan).

Mcllepatricke - 10

Co Down 10

Based on the Griffith's Valuation the distribution of Fitzpatricks in Ireland was diverse in the mid 1800s; 75% of Fitzpatricks lived in County Laois (18.9%), County Cavan (14.7%), County Down (7.9%), County Cork (6.2%), County Kilkenny (6.0%), County Tipperary (5.3%), County Clare (4.0%), County Dublin (4.0%), County Kildare (3.2%), County Fermanagh (2.9%) or County Monaghan (2.7%).^[8].

The Fitzpatricks of Fermanagh are most likely descended from the clan Maguire of Fermanagh.^[9][10]

Notable Fitzpatricks

The name is found throughout the world and several individuals and different families have been prominent. Apart from the Lords and Earls of Upper Ossory, also prominent was Brian Mac Giolla Phádraig (1585–1652), Vicar Apostolic of Ossory, who was murdered by Cromwellian soldiers. He was instrumental in saving the "Book of the O'Byrne", which he had transcribed, from destruction. Cenotaphs built in the 18th century on the Inishmore commemorate another landed branch, closely related to Lords of Upper Ossory.^[11] The family of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick made a major contribution to the political formation of South Africa. Patrick Fitzpatrick (1792–1865) was a trusted colleague of Daniel O'Connell. Fitzpatricks have also contributed, with significant influence and success, in high office in Ireland, England, Canada, India, Australia and the United States. There are also famous sporting Fitzpatricks, notably Sean Fitzpatrick one of the finest ever All Blacks, and Ryan Fitzpatrick (b. 1982) who is a Harvard-educated NFL quarterback. Vocalist Vitamin C is a stage name for Colleen Fitzpatrick, not to be confused with the Colleen Fitzpatrick who is considered one of the founders of forensic genealogy^[12]. Brad Fitzpatrick is a notable programmer who amongst other things founded the LiveJournal blog site. Major Thomas (Broken-Hand) Fitzpatrick, from Cavan, Indian Agent to the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes brought peace to the Plains Indians of North America in 1851 at Fort Laramie. Michael Sean "Fitz" Fitzpatrick (born 21 July 1970) is a French-American musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the neo-soul/indie pop band Fitz and The Tantrums.

Armorial bearings and mottoes

The Fitzpatrick (Mac Giolla Phádraig) motto – Fortis sub Forte Fatiscet – can be interpreted as "The strong will yield to the strong." A second motto in Irish, "Ceart ládir abú" translates loosely to "Right and Mighty Forever".^[13]

Modern research

Since 2000, the Fitzpatrick-Mac Giolla Phádraig Clan Society has been at the forefront of researching and promoting the history of the name.^[14] Members from across the world have shared information and history, and biennial and triennial international clan gatherings have been held in Portlaoise and Kilkenny, Ireland for participants to present their research and visit historical sites of interest to the clan.^[15][16][17]

See also

• Fitzpatrick (disambiguation)
• Kingdom of Osraige
• Upper Ossory
• Brian Mac Giolla Phádraig (poet)

Notes

External links

• The Fitzpatrick – Mac Giolla Phádraig Clan Society
• Fitzpatrick DNA Study originally initiated by forensic genealogist Dr. Colleen M. Fitzpatrick
• Fitzpatrick Heritage Society
• Index of Names in Irish Annals: Gilla Pátraic / Giolla Phádraig by Kathleen M. O'Brien (2013).
• Index of Names in Irish Annals: Máel Pátraic by Kathleen M. O'Brien (2006).