what is the meaning of fitzpatrick?

Answer 1

The name means simply "son of Patrick", though it has an interesting background.

The commonly repeated bit about the word meaning "illegitimate son" is mistaken.

FITZ is from the Norman French < FILS (cf. Latin filium) "son"

But it did NOT mean "illegitimate"son. This is a mistaken extrapolation from the fact that there were some illegitimate sons of English monarchs who bore such names. But there were legitimate sons who dis as well! In fact, the Norse culture the Normans represent did not ordinarily distinguish between the legitimate and illegitimate sons.

"Fitz' was used as a partial solution to an inheritance issue among the Normans. In Norman society, only one person at a time was entitled to the estate, the family Coat of Arms, etc. How then to mark sons (legitimate ones included) who were NOT able to inherit the estate (at least not yet)(? "Fitz" was used for this purpose, as least until the son's status changed. (The fact that the name was used for one who not, at the time of the naming, able to inherit the title,e tc., explains how it has been mistakenly taken as a mark of illegitimacy.)

This is all well-explained in this article:
http://www.traceit.com/origin_surnaming.html

In fact, this is just part of how the Normans (ca1120) played a MAJOR role in the development of the surname, as we know it today.
http://www.traceit.com/origin_began.html

Answer 2

"Fitz" was originally a surname prefix meaning "the acknowledged illegitimate child of", so Fitzpatrick means the illegitimate child of Patrick...

Answer 3

It means son of Patrick.