Fitzgibbon Family History
Fitzgibbon Name Meaning
Irish: from Anglo-Norman French fi(t)z ‘son’ (see Fitz ) + the personal name Gibbon a Norman French pet form of Gilbert ; ‘son of Gibbon’. This name has long been a widespread and important surname in Ireland and Gaelicized as Mac Giobúin. Sir Gilbert (Gibbon) FitzJohn illegitimate son of John FitzGerald 1st Baron Desmond (died 1261) was the ancestor of a line of Anglo-Norman aristocracy in Ireland who acquired the surname Fitzgibbon with reference to him. Gilbert and his Fitzgibbon descendants were known as ‘the White Knights’ on account of their fair complexion.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022