2000
#3,589
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 9,095
First available Census row
Per 100,000 3.37
Uncommon Last name
Fitzsimmons
An anglicized form of the Irish patronymic surname Mac Giolla Shím, meaning "son of the servant of Simon."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,006 Americans carry the last name Fitzsimmons. That puts it at #3,950 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.92 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 34,255 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fitzsimmons surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Fitzsimmons with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
10K
1 in 34,255
Census rank
#3,950
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
8.7K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,726 bearers of the surname Fitzsimmons in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.92 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3950th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fitzsimmons, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fitzsimmons
The surname FITZSIMMONS has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac Siomóin," meaning "son of Simon." This name was commonly anglicized to FitzSimon and later to FITZSIMMONS.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, which mentions a notable figure named Aedh Ua Crimthainn FitzSimon in 1197. These annals were a chronicle of events in medieval Ireland, documenting the lives of prominent individuals and families.
During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century, many Anglo-Norman families settled in the country, adopting Gaelic surnames and customs. The FITZSIMMONS name is believed to have emerged during this period, as the FitzSimon family integrated into Irish society.
The name FITZSIMMONS can be traced back to County Meath, where the family held lands and were influential members of the local community. The Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle from the 17th century, mentions several FITZSIMMONS individuals who played significant roles in various conflicts and events.
One notable figure was Walter FITZSIMMONS (c. 1420 - c. 1480), a wealthy landowner and prominent member of the Irish parliament. He was involved in negotiations with the English Crown and played a crucial role in maintaining peace in the region.
In the 16th century, Sir Patrick FITZSIMMONS (c. 1535 - 1593) was a respected military leader and landowner in County Cavan. He was knighted for his service to the English Crown and his efforts in suppressing rebellions in Ireland.
Another historical figure was Edmund FITZSIMMONS (c. 1570 - 1642), a Catholic priest and scholar from County Westmeath. He studied in France and Italy and was known for his expertise in theology and canon law.
The FITZSIMMONS name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Fitzsimons Park in County Dublin and Fitzsimons Wood in County Westmeath. These locations likely derived their names from the presence of FITZSIMMONS families in those areas.
Throughout history, several other individuals with the surname FITZSIMMONS have made notable contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. While not an exhaustive list, these examples provide insights into the rich history and significance of this Irish surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fitzsimmons
Among Census respondents with the surname Fitzsimmons, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Fitzsimmons bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Fitzsimmons surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.2% · 7,955
- Hispanic or Latino3.5% · 304
- Two or more races3.3% · 290
- Black or African American0.9% · 76
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 74
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 27
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fitzsimmons
Fitzsimmons appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#3,826
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 9,260
+165 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 3.14
Rank movement Down 237 places
2020
#3,950
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 8,726
-534 bearers (-5.8%)
Per 100,000 2.92
Rank movement Down 124 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #3,589 | 9,095 | 3.37 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #3,826 | 9,260 | 3.14 | +165 bearers (+1.8%) | Down 237 places |
| 2020 | #3,950 | 8,726 | 2.92 | -534 bearers (-5.8%) | Down 124 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Fitzsimmons surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,826 | #3,950 | -3.2% |
| Count | 9,260 | 8,726 | -5.8% |
| Per 100K | 3.14 | 2.92 | -7.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fitzsimmons bearers went from 9,260 to 8,726 (-5.8% change). The surname moved down 124 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,826 to #3,950.
FAQ
Fitzsimmons surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fitzsimmons?
Name Census estimates that about 10,006 living Americans carry the surname Fitzsimmons. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 34,255 residents.
How common is Fitzsimmons?
Fitzsimmons ranks #3,950 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.92 per 100,000 residents, which is about 3 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 8,726 people with the surname Fitzsimmons. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (10,006), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.92 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.92 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 3 of them to have the surname Fitzsimmons.
Has Fitzsimmons become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fitzsimmons went from 9,260 recorded bearers to 8,726. That is a decrease of 534 (-5.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #3,826 to #3,950.
What does the Census say about the background of Fitzsimmons?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fitzsimmons, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fitzsimmons in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.2% (7,955 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fitzsimmons appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.2%), Hispanic (3.5%), Two or More Races (3.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Fitzsimmons (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Fitzsimmons mean?
An anglicized form of the Irish patronymic surname Mac Giolla Shím, meaning "son of the servant of Simon." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Fitzsimmons (2.92 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Fitzsimmons?
Want to know how many people are called Fitzsimmons? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.