The surname FitzGerald is a translation of the Norman fils de Gérald, or son of Gerald (Gerald meaning "rule of the spear"). Variant spellings include Fitz-Gerald and the modern Fitzgerald. The name can also be used as two separate words Fitz Gerald

Peers of Ireland

The FitzGeralds are a Hiberno-Norman dynasty, and have been Peers of Ireland since at least the 13th century. The main branches of the family are the FitzGeralds of Kildare (Earls of Kildare, later Marquesses of Kildare and now Dukes of Leinster and Premier Peers of Ireland) and the FitzGeralds of Desmond (Barons Desmond, later Earls of Desmond); see the articles on those titles for lists of people who have held them. The dynasty is also sometimes referred to as the Geraldines, and the name Geraldine can be a derivation of this adjective. Elizabeth FitzGerald (1527-89) was known as the "Fair Geraldine" from her surname. The most famous members of the dynasty include:

• Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, "Gearóid Iarla" (14th century)
• Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, the "Wizard Earl" (1525-1585)
• Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, rebel killed at Glenageenty 1583
• James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, rebel killed in 1579-leader of the Desmond Rebellions (late 16th century)
• Edmund FitzGibbon, the White Knight (1552?-1608).
• Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond, known as the "old Countess of Desmond" (15th to 17th centuries).
• Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), Irish aristocrat and revolutionary.
• Lady Edward FitzGerald, known as "Pamela" (c. 1773–1831), wife of Lord Edward FitzGerald.

Notable FitzGeralds

Those with the surname (except for those holding peerages, for which see above) include:

• Alexis FitzGerald, Snr (1916-1985), Irish politician
• Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (born 1945), Irish politician
• Barry Fitzgerald (1888–1961), Irish actor
• Brendan Fitzgerald, Austalian, 16 year-old victim of Bali Bombing
• Brian Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Charles Fitzgerald (1791–1887), Governor of Gambia; Governor of Western Australia
• Ciaran Fitzgerald (born 1952), Irish rugby union player
• Cody FitzGerald (born 1993), St.Paul rugby player
• Dai Fitzgerald (1872-1951), Welsh international rugby player
• Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947), Irish revolutionary, poet and politician
• Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, president of the Irish Georgian Society
• Edward FitzGerald (disambiguation)
• Eithne FitzGerald (born 1950), Irish politician
• Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), U.S. jazz singer
• F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), Irish-American novelist and short story writer
• Frances FitzGerald (born 1940), U.S. Pullitzer prize-winning journalist
• Frances Fitzgerald (born 1950), Irish politician
• Frank Fitzgerald (1885–1939), U.S. governor of Michigan
• Frankie Fitzgerald (born 1985), British actor
• Garret FitzGerald (born 1926), seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland
• Gene Fitzgerald (born 1932), Irish politician
• Gerald Fitzgerald (born 1959), American writer, actor and director
• Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913–2005), Irish-American actress
• George FitzGerald (1851–1901), Irish physicist
• Jack Fitzgerald, founder member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
• James FitzGerald, (1818 - 1896), New Zealand politician
• Jim Fitzgerald, (born 1926), American businessman and philanthropist
• Jennifer Fitzgerald (born 1932), U.S. diplomat and alleged lover of George H. W. Bush
• Joan Fitz-Gerald, American politician
• John Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston Massachusetts and grandfather of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy, United States president
• John D. FitzGerald, Irish economist
• Judith Fitzgerald (born 1952), Canadian poet
• Kevin Fitzgerald, U.S. veterinarian; appeared on the television programme Emergency Vets
• Larry Fitzgerald (born 1983), American football player
• Lawrence J. Fitzgerald, NYS Treasurer 1886-1889
• Lewis Fitz-Gerald (born 1958), Australian actor and television director
• LeMoine Fitzgerald (1890–1956), Canadian artist, a member of the Group of Seven
• Lorna Fitzgerald (born 1996), English actress
• Michael C. FitzGerald (born 1953), art historian and Picasso scholar
• Michael G. Fitzgerald (1950-2006), film historian
• Michael J. Fitzgerald (born 1957), American author
• Michael L. Fitzgerald (born 1937), Roman Catholic archbishop
• Pamela Fitzgerald (born 1984), Irish camogie player.
• Pat Fitzgerald, U.S. football coach
• Patrick Fitzgerald (born 1961), U.S. attorney; special prosecutor in the CIA leak scandal
• Penelope Fitzgerald (1916–2000), British poet, novelist and biographer
• Peter Fitzgerald (born 1960), U.S. Senator for Illinois
• Robert Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Ryan Fitzgerald (born 1976), Australian television presenter
• Ryan D. Fitzgerald, 9/11 Victim, World Trade Center.
• Sarah Fitz-Gerald
• Scott Fitzgerald (born 1981), Welsh National Squash Player
• Tara Fitzgerald (born 1967), British actress
• Thomas Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Thomas Fitzgerald (composer), Australian composer, musical director, conductor and musician
• William Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948), wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald