Fun Facts About the Name Fitzwilliam
- 97 babies named Fitzwilliam: U.S. records list 97 babies given the name Fitzwilliam from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Fitzwilliam Mean?
Fitzwilliam is an English name of Norman French origin meaning "son of William." Its first element is the Anglo-Norman fitz, from Old French fiz or filz and ultimately Latin filius, "son." The second element is the personal name William, from Norman French Willaume, which comes from the Germanic name Willahelm, formed from wil, "will" or "desire," and helm, "helmet" or "protection." The name is a patronymic phrase rather than a compound with a separate meaning of its own; its literal sense is simply "son of William."
Fitzwilliam Name History & Origins
The name belongs to a large group of English surnames formed with the Anglo-Norman prefix fitz, meaning "son of." Norman French naming customs came to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and as hereditary surnames developed in England during the Middle Ages, patronymics such as Fitzwilliam became fixed family names. The prefix did not necessarily imply illegitimacy; it was a conventional way of identifying a man as the son of a particular William.
The Fitzwilliam family was seated at Milton Hall in Northamptonshire, and the title Earl Fitzwilliam was created in the 18th century. As a first name, Fitzwilliam is a transferred surname, used to preserve a family name. A well-known literary example is Fitzwilliam Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), where the surname is used as a first name; this famous use is not the origin of the name. The name also appears in Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, founded in 1869 as Fitzwilliam Hall and named for the Fitzwilliam family.
How Popular is the Name Fitzwilliam?
Fitzwilliam has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #7,698 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,636 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,327 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #9,175 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #9,257 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #9,103 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #7,698 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,815 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #7,783 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #7,762 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #9,113 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #9,010 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #11,171 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Fitzwilliam Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Fitzwilliam's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Fitzwilliam's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.