Quote Originally Posted by beloitpiper View Post
Though it has been used in that context, the "bastard" connotation is not the original meaning of "Fitz". The prefix "Fitz" is Anglo-Norman and originally means "Son of". Its spread throughout Ireland occurred during the Norman invasion of the 12th century.
There wasn't a Norman invasion. They came at the request of Dermot McMurrough Kavanagh, the King of Leinster, who hired them to aid in his war to secure the High Kingship of Ireland. As part of the deal, McMurrough Kavanagh gave Richard de Clair (Strongbow), the leader of the Anglo-Normans, the hand of his daughter in marriage, and settled extensive lands on Strongbow and his knights. Within a generation these Hibernio-Normans were "more Irish than the Irish", speaking Gaelic and marrying in to all of the ancient Irish noble houses. They came as allies of a Irish king, adopted Irish ways, and in a generation became Irish.