Fitzsimons (also spelled FitzSimons, Fitzsimmons or FitzSimmons) is a surname of

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 9th and 10th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norma ...

origin common in both

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

and

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. The name is a variant of "Sigmundsson", meaning son of

Sigmund In Germanic mythology, Sigmund ( , ) is a hero whose story is told in the Völsunga saga. He and his sister, Signý, are the children of Völsung and his wife Hljod. Sigmund is best known as the father of Sigurð the dragon-slayer, though Sigu ...

. The

Gaelicisation Gaelicisation, or Gaelicization, is the act or process of making something Gaels, Gaelic or gaining characteristics of the ''Gaels'', a sub-branch of Celticisation. The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group, traditionally viewed as having spread fro ...

of this surname is ''Mac Síomóin'' or ''Mac an Ridire''. The name "FitzSymons" and its pre-standardization variants (Fitzsimons, Fitzsimmons, Fitz-Simons, etc.) is not a sept, or clan, name, but rather an individual patronymic passed down through various, yet discrete, colonial families arriving at different times in Irish history. Some families "went native" during the Gaelic revival of the 14th and 15th centuries, and many refused to endorse the Protestant Reformation. Others became important members of the Protestant Ascendancy and its supporting

mittelstand (; composed of the words "''Mittel"'' for ''middle'' and "''Stand''" for ''class'') commonly refers to a group of stable business enterprises in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that have proved successful in enduring economic change and turbule ...

. Two distinct families can be identified: those who arrived when the surname was first recorded in Ireland in 1177, attached to an adventurer seeking swordlands in Ulster, known as Sir

John de Courcy Sir John de Courcy (c. 1150–1219) was an Anglo-Norman knight who lived in Ireland from 1176 until his expulsion in 1204. He conquered a considerable territory, endowed religious establishments, built abbeys for both the Benedictines and the ...

Carrickfergus Castle Carrickfergus Castle (from the Irish ''Carraig Ḟergus'' or "cairn of Fergus", the name "Fergus" meaning "strong man") is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of B ...

, earl of Ulster. These Fitzsimons are now native to the east-central seaboard of Ulster, in Lecale, Ards and Down. In 1323, a junior member of the Fitzsymons' of Simonshide,

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

, settled in Dublin. This family is thought to be distinct from the Ulster Fitzsimons. Settling in Dublin, and the north and south reaches of Dublin County, they expanded into Meath, Westmeath, King's and Queen's County of the central English Pale. This branch may have been the root of the Wexford Fitzsimons family which produced a Signer of the Declaration of Independence (or the Wexford family may have sprung from a Norman adventurer arriving with Strongbow). Of the Pale Fitzsimons, it is thought discrete branches settled at Tullynally, County Meath, the line of

Sir William Johnson Major-General Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet ( – 11 July 1774), was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Ireland known for his military and governance work in British colonial America. As a young man, Johnson moved to t ...

and 'went' native by intermarrying with the O'Reillys and MacMahons of south central Ulster. These are generally the families now with ties to

County Cavan County Cavan ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is part of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Cavan and is based on the hi ...

and

County Longford County Longford () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford. Longford County Council is the Local government in the Republic ...

. The English family which sent its youngest son to Dublin in 1323 died out in the name, only the Irish branch now survives. The name "Fitzsimons" is quite common in England itself. These originating in

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

and

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated ''Notts.'') is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. The county is bordered by South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. Th ...

are thought to be

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

n and of the ''genere Danus'', as the area was settled by Danish

Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

s and predate the

Norman invasion The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, French, Flemish, and Breton troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conquero ...

in 1066 AD.

People surnamed Fitzsimons or Fitzsimmons

* Allan Fitzsimmons (f. 1980s–2000s), United States civil servant *

Arthur Fitzsimons Arthur Fitzsimons (16 December 1929 – 9 May 2018) was an Irish professional football player and manager. An inside forward, he notably made over 200 appearances for Middlesbrough. Career Originally from Penrose Street, in the shadow of Shelbo ...

(1929–2018), Irish athlete in football *

Casey FitzSimmons Casey FitzSimmons (born October 10, 1980) is an American former professional football tight end who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Early life FitzSimmons attended Chester High School in Chester, Montana and ...

(born 1980), United States athlete in football * Charles Fitzsimmons (1802–1876), Australian politician and sugar farmer, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1860–1861, 1865–1868) *

Charles B. Fitzsimons Charles B. Fitzsimons (8 May 1924 – 14 February 2001) was an Irish actor who emigrated to the United States, where he became a film producer after ending his acting career. He was a younger brother of famed actress Maureen O'Hara. His na ...

(1924–2001), Irish American actor * Conor Fitzsimmons (born 1998), British rugby league footballer * Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons (1931–2004), United States basketball coach *

David Fitzsimons David Fitzsimons (23 April 1950 – 7 September 2008) was a former Australian Olympic athlete who competed in middle distance events and civil engineer. A member of the Adelaide University Athletics Club, he represented Australia at two Oly ...

(1950–2008), Australian Olympic athlete *

David Fitzsimmons David Myles FitzSimmons (born August 4, 1978) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 30B in east-central Minnesota. Minnesot ...

(1875–?), Scottish athlete in football *

David FitzSimmons David Myles FitzSimmons (born August 4, 1978) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 30B in east-central Minnesota. Minnesot ...

(born 1978), American politician, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2013–2015) * Eoghan Fitzsimons, Irish Attorney General (1994) and barrister * Foster Fitzsimmons (f. 1930s–1960s), United States dancer, novelist and teacher * Frank Fitzsimmons (1907–1981), United States labor leader *

Freddie Fitzsimmons Frederick Landis Fitzsimmons (July 28, 1901 – November 18, 1979) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, manager, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to with the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodg ...

(1901–1979), United States athlete in baseball * Frederick William FitzSimons (1870–1951), South African naturalist * George Fitzsimmons (public servant) (1858–1933), Australian letter server * George Fitzsimmons (serial killer) (1937–1999), American serial killer *

George Kinzie Fitzsimons George Kinzie Fitzsimons (September 4, 1928 – July 28, 2013) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salina from 1984 to 2004. Biography George Fitzsimons was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to George K. an ...

(1928–2013), American Roman Catholic bishop * Gerry Fitzsimons (1960–2007), British businessman *

Greg Fitzsimmons Gregory Sebastian Fitzsimmons (born April 5, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, podcaster, and Emmy Award-winning television writer. Early life Fitzsimmons was raised in Tarrytown, New York to Bob (1939-1993) and Patricia Marie Judi ...

(born 1966), United States comedian and writer *

Herbert FitzSimons Major Herbert Paton FitzSimons (25 November 1898 – 31 January 1970) was an Australian politician. He was born at Gordon in Sydney; his father, William FitzSimons, was a member of the New South Wales Parliament from 1922 to 1926. Herbert w ...

(1898–1970), Australian politician, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1930–1944) and Council (1955–1970) * James E. Fitzsimmons (1874–1966), United States racehorse trainer *

Jason Fitzsimmons Jason Fitzsimmons (born June 3, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, who played six seasons in the ECHL and AHL, most notably for the South Carolina Stingrays. He is currently a professional scout for the Washington Cap ...

(born 1971), Canadian athlete in ice hockey *

Jeanette Fitzsimons Jeanette Mary Fitzsimons (née Gaston; 17 January 1945 – 5 March 2020) was a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. She was the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 1995 to 2009, and was a Member of Parliament from ...

(1945–2020), New Zealand politician and environmentalist * James Fitzsimmons (1870–1948), Canadian politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (1928–1933) *

Jim Fitzsimons James Fitzsimons (born 16 December 1936) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. A publican from Navan, County Meath, he was educated at St Patrick's Classical School in Navan. Fitzsimons was elected to the 21st Dáil as a Fianna Fáil T ...

(born 1936), Irish politician *

John Fitzsimons (footballer) John Thomas Fitzsimons (3 March 1915 – 3 September 1995) was a Scottish Association football, footballer who played as an Forward (association football)#Outside forward, outside left, and a medical doctor who acted as Celtic F.C.'s club physici ...

(1915–1995), Scottish footballer for Alloa, Falkirk and Clyde, doctor with Celtic *

John FitzSimons John Henry FitzSimons (born 12 February 1943) is a British former track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw and was a gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games. Biography FitzSimons became the British javelin throw champion a ...

(born 1943), English javelin thrower * John Fitzsimmons (1939–2008), Scottish clergyman and broadcaster *

Lesley Fitz-Simons Lesley Fitz-Simons (23 September 1961 – 26 January 2013) was a Scottish actress best known for playing the role of Sheila Ramsay in STV's soap opera ''Take the High Road''. Fitz-Simons was born in Glasgow and brought up in Milton of Campsi ...

(1961–2013), Scottish actress *

Lorna Fitzsimons Lorna Fitzsimons (born 6 August 1967) is a British businesswoman and former politician. A member of the Labour Party, she served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochdale from 1997 to 2005. Early life Fitzsimons was born on 6 August 1967 in ...

(born 1967), British politician * Matthew Fitzsimmons (1913-?), English football centre half who played for Liverpool *

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was an Irish-born naturalized American actress who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural redhead who was known for playing passionate b ...

(born ''Maureen FitzSimons''; 1920–2015), Irish-American actress * Maurice J. Fitzsimons, Jr. (1906–1972), American politician * Michael Fitzsimons (born 1989), Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cuala and Dublin * Orla Fitzsimons (born 1981), Irish rugby union player *

Pat Fitzsimons Pat Fitzsimons (born December 15, 1950) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nike Tour. Fitzsimons was born in Coos Bay, Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon. He turned professional in 1971. Fitzsi ...

(born 1950), United States athlete in golf * Paul Fitzsimons, Irish Gaelic footballer *

Peter FitzSimons Peter John FitzSimons (born 29 June 1961) is an Australian author, journalist, and radio and television presenter. He is a former national representative rugby union player and was the chair of the Australian Republic Movement from 2015 to 20 ...

(born 1961), Australian rugby union player, journalist, author *

Randy Fitzsimmons The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band formed in Fagersta in 1993. After gaining success in Sweden throughout the 1990s, they rose to worldwide prominence in the early 2000s during the garage rock revival. The band's line-upconsisting of Howl ...

(f. 1990s), Swedish musician * Richard W. Fitzsimons (1922–1991), American farmer and politician * Riley Fitzsimmons (born 1996), Australian Olympic sprint canoeist * Robert Fitzsimmons, several people: ** Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons (1863–1918), British boxer and three division champion ** Robert Stanley "Bob" Fitzsimmons (1917–1998), Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and St Kilda ** Robert J. "Rocky" Fitzsimmons (born 1979), American attorney and politician, member of the West Virginia Senate (2012–014) * Ronald J. Fitzsimmons (f. 1980s–2000s), United States lobbyist *

Ross Fitzsimons Ross Alan Richard Frank Fitzsimons (born 28 May 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for side Northampton Town. Playing career Early career Fitzsimons began his career at Crystal Palace. On 17 January 2013, he ...

(born 1994), English footballer * Roy Fitzsimmons (1916–1945), United States explorer *

Shane Fitzsimmons Shane Alan Fitzsimmons (born 22 February 1969 in Sydney) was the Head of Resilience NSW and was previously the Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service between September 2007 and April 2020. Career Fitzsimmons joined the NSW R ...

(f. 2000s), Australian fire commissioner * Shane Fitzsimmons (footballer) (born 1955), Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne and for West Perth * Sharyn Hill (née ''Fitzsimmons''; born 1954), Australian cricket player *

Stephen Fitzsimons Stephen Fitzsimons (4 February 1882 – 14 January 1952) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. His championship career with the Louth senior team spanned several seasons during the first decade of the 20th century and he won an All-Ireland medal in 1 ...

(1882–1952), Irish Gaelic footballer *

Steve Fitzsimmons Steve Fitzsimmons (born 7 September 1976) is a former Australian football (soccer) player and coach. Club career Steve started his NSL career with Parramatta Power under coach & former Socceroo David Mitchell and his assistant coach Lawrie ...

(born 1976), Australian athlete in football * Stuart Fitzsimmons (1956–2019), British Olympic alpine skier *

Thomas Fitzsimons Thomas Fitzsimons (October 1741August 26, 1811) was an Irish-born American Founding Father, merchant, banker, and politician. A resident of Philadelphia, Fitzsimons represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress, was a delegate to Const ...

(1741–1811), American merchant and statesman. Signed U.S. Constitution. *

Tom Fitzsimmons (baseball) Thomas William Fitzsimmons (April 6, 1890 – December 20, 1971) was an American professional baseball player who played third base in four games for the Brooklyn Robins during the 1919 baseball season. He was born in Oakland, California, and a ...

(1890–1971), United States athlete in baseball *

Tom Fitzsimmons (actor) Tom Fitzsimmons (born October 28, 1947) is an American television actor. He is known for playing Franklin Ford III in the American drama television series '' The Paper Chase''. Life and career Fitzsimmons was born in San Francisco, California ...

(born 1947), American television actor *

Tommy Fitzsimmons Thomas Fitzsimmons (15 June 1872 – 1934) was a Scottish footballer. His regular position was as a forward. He was born in Annbank, Ayrshire. He played for Annbank (featuring for the village team at various between spells at other clubs), Cel ...

(1870–?), Scottish athlete in football *

Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons, born in Pietermaritzburg, was a notable herpetologist in South Africa. Also, he contributed to the collection of spermatophyte samples for the National Herbarium which has become part of the South African Nati ...

(1901–1975), South African herpetologist *

Whitney Fitzsimmons Whitney Fitzsimmons is an Australian journalist. Career Fitzsimmons has been a TV presenter for over eight years at the ABC ustralian Broadcasting Corporation She is currently the host of ''Business Today'', which is broadcast on ABC1, ABC News ...

, Australian journalist * William Fitzsimmons (disambiguation), any of several men with variations of that name

Places with the name

Fitzsimmons Creek Fitzsimmons Creek is a large Stream, creek in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, having its origins at the Fitzsimmons Glacier in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. For half its length of approximately 10 kilometres, the creek courses ...

, a large creek in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada *

Fitzsimmons Range The Fitzsimmons Range is a small mountain range on the northwestern edge of the Garibaldi Ranges in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, located between the valleys of Cheakamus Lake (SW) and Fitzsimmons Creek (NE). Its most famous summit is ...

, a mountain range in southwestern British Columbia, Canada * FitzSimons Wood, a forest in

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown () is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and the Eastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin, which was disestablished in 1994. It is named after the former ...

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

, Ireland * The Young Men's Leadership School at Thomas FitzSimons High School *

Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Fitzsimons Army Hospital, also known as Fitzsimons General Hospital, renamed Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in 1974, and Fitzsimons Building in 2018 was a U.S. Army facility located on in Aurora, Colorado. The facility opened in 1918 and closed ...

, was a U.S. Army facility located in Aurora, Colorado

Fictional characters

* Jimmy Fitzsimmons, character in the American animated series ''

F Is for Family ''F Is for Family'' is an adult animated sitcom created by Bill Burr and Michael Price for Netflix. It was produced by Vince Vaughn's Wild West Television, King of France Productions, Loner Productions, Gaumont Television USA and Gaumont Anima ...

'' * "Fitzsimmons", the "ship" name for the fictional characters

Leo Fitz Leopold James "Leo" Fitz is a fictional character that originated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before appearing in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, first appeared in the pilot epi ...

and

Jemma Simmons Jemma Anne Simmons is a fictional character that originated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before appearing in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, first appeared in the 2013 pilot episode ...

in the series ''

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ''Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' is an American television series created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen for ABC based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, ...

References

{{surname Anglicised Irish-language surnames English-language surnames Patronymic surnames