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Fitzhugh
How to Pronounce Fitzhugh
Pronounced FITS-hew /ˈfɪts.hju/Medium
Meaning: Fitzhugh is a Norman-derived surname meaning 'son of Hugh', from Anglo-Norman 'fitz' ('son of', from Latin 'filius') plus the name Hugh, itself from a Germanic word for 'heart, mind, spirit'. It became a distinguished American first name, especially in Southern families.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Fitzhugh combines Anglo-Norman fitz ('son of') with Hugh (Germanic, 'heart, mind, spirit'), literally 'son of Hugh'. Borne by notable American families, it passed into first-name use in the surname-name tradition and had a modest run around the turn of the twentieth century, with a distinctly aristocratic flavor.
It was always uncommon, cresting around 1898 with only a couple dozen boys a year and thinning through the twentieth century. A man named Fitzhugh then belongs to a great-great-grandparent generation; the name reads as a grand, old-line antique - carried, for instance, by Confederate cavalry general and Virginia governor Fitzhugh Lee.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Fitzhugh Lee (1835–1905)American cavalry general who later served as governor of Virginia and a U.S. consul.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Fitzhugh mean?
Fitzhugh is a Norman surname-name meaning 'son of Hugh' (Hugh means 'heart, mind, spirit').
How do you pronounce Fitzhugh?
It's said FITS-hew /ˈfɪts.hju/, two syllables.
Is Fitzhugh a boy or girl name?
Fitzhugh is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Fitzhugh?
Fitzhugh has always been uncommon, a patrician turn-of-the-century surname-name.