Fitzjohn - Name

This interesting name is of Anglo-Norman French origin and is the patronymic (son of) form of the English personal name John, itself from the Hebrew "Yochanan", meaning Jehovah has favoured, (me with a son) or, may Jehovah favour, (this child). The prefix Fitz derives from the Anglo French "fiz", son, and was apparently used originally to distinguish the son from the father. Certain names with the prefix Fitz have acquired aristocratic connotations. It is also interesting to note that the name Fidgeon or Fidgen has evolved from Fitzjohn, for example Fidgeons Croft in High Easter, Essex, is named from Peter Ffitz John (1403, The Placenames of Essex) and other Essex farms named Fitzjohns occur as Figeons (1630). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Fitz-John, which was dated 1287, Feet of Fines of Norfolk, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.