Fitzgibbon


Fitzgibbon, FitzGibbon, Fitz-Gibbon and Fitzgibbons are Irish surnames of Hiberno-Norman origin.
The surname originates with Gilbert FitzJohn, who was an illegitimate son of John FitzThomas, 1st Baron Desmond ; the line of Anglo-Norman aristocracy in Ireland descended from Gilbert became known as Fitzgibbon. Fitzgibbon means "son of Gibbon", derived from Norman French fiz/''fitz and Gibbon. The Gaelicised form of Fitzgibbon is Mac Giobúin''.

Overview

The Fitzgibbon families of the present day are to be found concentrated in the parts of the Ireland in which they originated. The most numerous are those of Co. Mayo: the MacGibbon Burke, being a branch of the Hiberno-Irish sept of Burke in Co. Mayo. Ballymacgibbon in Co. Mayo takes its name from them. They were Gaelicised more completely than other Norman invaders, intermarrying with native Irish and becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves.
The others are equally associated with a particular county, in this case Co. Limerick. The head of this family in Co. Limerick was known as the White Knight, being one of the three hereditary knights in Desmond, the other two being the Green Knight and the Black Knight, who are FitzGeralds. Their territory prior to the upheaval of the 17th century was the south-eastern corner of Co. Limerick near Co. Cork.
The best known of the Fitzgibbons was John 'Black Jack' Fitzgibbon, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, whose pro-English and anti-Catholic activity at the time of the Acts of Union made him hated in his own day and his memory reviled since.

Notable people

Notable people with the name include: