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Help[Facts] Fitzwilliam?
I was reading Pride and Prejudice, and this was the first name of Mr. Darcy. Is there any background behind this name, or was it simply made up? (I figured I would just ask this here.) Thank you!
He was of course male, obviously, as well as British, but I don't know that that would have anything to do with it all. Thanks again.
He was of course male, obviously, as well as British, but I don't know that that would have anything to do with it all. Thanks again.
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"Fitz" names were traditonally given to the illegitemate sons of royalty.
According to a few websites I found looking up Fitz- names, this is actually untrue, though I'd like to ask CKE or someone else with proper authority (heh) to set the record straight.
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According to a few websites I found looking up Fitz- names, this is actually untrue, though I'd like to ask CKE or someone else with proper authority (heh) to set the record straight.
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This message was edited 6/28/2007, 6:29 PM
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As some others have pointed out, there are some cases where illegitimate children of royal men in England have received surnames that start with Fitz- such as Fitzroy or Fitzclarence.
However, there have been a lot of commentators who have therefore jumped to the conclusion that ALL families with surnames starting with Fitz- are descended from royal bastards, and that is definitely NOT the case. The huge majority of persons with Fitz- surnames have no royal connection.
However, there have been a lot of commentators who have therefore jumped to the conclusion that ALL families with surnames starting with Fitz- are descended from royal bastards, and that is definitely NOT the case. The huge majority of persons with Fitz- surnames have no royal connection.
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Thanks for the explanation, CKE. :D
All this information (from everyone who replied, heh) is fascinating. :)
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All this information (from everyone who replied, heh) is fascinating. :)
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Hmm, really?
I've read that in several places...but it could definitely be wrong. Next time I see a post by CKE I'll ask him.
I've read that in several places...but it could definitely be wrong. Next time I see a post by CKE I'll ask him.
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And
Fitzroy was also used by the children of Charles II, Henry I and John
The Fitzcharles who were also the children of Charles II and the Fitzclarences who were the children of William IV (from when he was the Duke of Clarence.
(And to the OP: FitzWilliam is the name of an earldom (real life, not just in P&P) according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_FitzWilliam, though being Wikipedia any information has to be taken with some caution).
Fitzroy was also used by the children of Charles II, Henry I and John
The Fitzcharles who were also the children of Charles II and the Fitzclarences who were the children of William IV (from when he was the Duke of Clarence.
(And to the OP: FitzWilliam is the name of an earldom (real life, not just in P&P) according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_FitzWilliam, though being Wikipedia any information has to be taken with some caution).
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Additional note . . .
The Fitzwilliam in question, ie Fitzwilliam Darcy, was presumably given the name because it was a family surname. His cousin who appears in the book is Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Colonel's father was an earl, and therefore an auspicious namesake.
The Fitzwilliam in question, ie Fitzwilliam Darcy, was presumably given the name because it was a family surname. His cousin who appears in the book is Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Colonel's father was an earl, and therefore an auspicious namesake.
This message was edited 6/27/2007, 9:19 PM
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