Fitz

Fitz (also fiz and filtz) is an old Norman-French word signifying 'son,' from the Lat. filius (Fr. filz). Like the Scotch Mac, the Irish O', and the oriental Ben, it is prefixed to proper names to signify descent, as in the Norman names Fitzwilliam, Fitzwalter, Fitzgerald. A special application of it is for natural sons of royalty, as in Fitzroy, Fitzjames (see BERWICK, DUKE OF), and Fitzclarence.