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 is a derivation of this adjective. The most famous members of the dynasty include:
- 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, the archtraitor (late 16th century)
- Edmund FitzGibbon, the White Knight (1552?-1608).
- James FitzThomas FitzGerald, known as the "Súgan Earl of Desmond" (late 16th century).
- Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond, known as the "old Countess of Desmond" (15th to 17th centuries).
- John FitzEdmund FitzGerald, Dean of Cloyne (1528-1612).
- John FitzEdmund FitzGerald, Seneschal of Imokilly (late 16th century).
- Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), Irish aristocrat and revolutionary.
- Lady Edward FitzGerald, known as "Pamela" (c. 1773–1831), wife of Lord Edward FitzGerald.
The surname FitzGerald means "son of Gerald", cf. French fils (pronounced "fiss") for son, (Gerald meaning "rule of the spear"), and in modern times it is often found as Fitzgerald. Those with the surname (except for those holding peerages, for which see above) include:
- Thomas Fitzgerald (1796–1855), U.S. Senator from Michigan
- Edward FitzGerald (1809–1883), English writer; translator of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám.
- Charles Fitzgerald (1791–1887), Governor of Gambia; Governor of Western Australia.
- George FitzGerald (1851–1901), Irish physicist.
- Frank Fitzgerald (1885–1939), U.S. governor of Michigan.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), Irish-American novelist and short story writer.
- Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947), Irish revolutionary, poet and politician.
- Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948), wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- John F. Fitzgerald (1863–1950), U.S. politician; grandfather of President John F. Kennedy.
- LeMoine Fitzgerald (1890–1956), Canadian artist, a member of the Group of Seven.
- Barry Fitzgerald (1888–1961), Irish actor.
- William Charles Fitzgerald (1938–1967), U.S. Navy lieutenant; posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross.
- John D. Fitzgerald (1907–1988), U.S. author.
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), U.S. jazz singer.
- Penelope Fitzgerald (1916–2000), British poet, novelist and biographer.
- Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913–2005), Irish-American actress.
- Garret FitzGerald (born 1926), seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland.
- Gene FitzGerald (born 1932), Irish politician.
- Jennifer Fitzgerald (born 1932), U.S. diplomat and alleged lover of George H. W. Bush.
- Frances FitzGerald (born 1940), U.S. Pullitzer prize-winning journalist.
- Frances Fitzgerald (born 1950), Irish politician.
- Ciaran Fitzgerald (born 1952), Irish rugby union player.
- Peter Fitzgerald (born 1960), U.S. Senator for Illinois.
- Patrick Fitzgerald (born 1961), U.S. attorney; special prosecutor in the Plame affair.
- Tara Fitzgerald (born 1967), British actress.
- Larry Fitzgerald (born 1983), American football player.
- Frankie Fitzgerald (born 1985), British actor.
- Edward Fitzgerald, American who spied for the Soviet Union.
- Judith Fitzgerald, Canadian poet.
- Kevin Fitzgerald, U.S. veterinarian; appeared on the television programme Emergency Vets.
- Pamela Fitzgerald, Irish camogie player.
- Ryan Fitzgerald, Australian television presenter.
- Ryan D. Fitzgerald, 9/11 Victim, World Trade Center. Memorial
- Brendan Fitzgerald, Austalian, 16 year-old victim of Bali Bombing #2.
There are also several places called
Fitzgerald:
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