Who are we?
We are Fitzpatricks. We are the children of great Irish ancestors who have gone before. We are Mac Giolla Phádraig, Ó Maol Phádraig, known and yet to be discovered.
We are many clans of different blood and numerous Irish homelands, with narratives too many to number.
Yet, we are one under the same name, gained from Saint Patrick, and our hearts are for each other. Cún freastal cún leanúint ~ To serve and to follow.
Our Goals
Our goals are to:
Foster and facilitate surname spirit, diversity, friendship and networking amongst members.
Encourage and promote the study and preservation of the history, folklore, and traditions of Fitzpatricks.
Research the history and genetic genealogy of Fitzpatricks.
Uncover and revive Fitzpatrick clans.
Support Fitzpatricks seeking to understand their roots and connections.
Provide opportunities for members to participate in international and regional gatherings and to network with Irish clans.
Fitzpatrick Clans
Long gone are the days of thinking Fitzpatricks were all of the same one clan.
We are many clans, who arose from Irish Gaelic, Germanic, Levantine, Norman, and Viking lineages, who came to take the surnames Ó Maol Phádraig, Mac Giolla Phádraig, and, later, Fitzpatrick and Patrick. Our ancient clan territories were all four corners of Ireland, as well as its middle.
The Fitzpatrick Clan Society facilitates the revival and recognition of Fitzpatrick clans via The Council of Irish Clans and The Clans of Ireland.
Fitzpatrick DNA
Since its infancy in 2000, the Fitzpatrick DNA project has grown to a membership of more than eight hundred.
The project administrator is leading genetic genealogist, Dr Mike Fitzpatrick PhD, who with Ian Fitzpatrick, John Branan, Matt Fitzpatrick, Karen Fitzpatrick-Hall, and Gareth McCasker, have uncovered several Fitzpatrick clans and enabled much deeper understanding of ancient connections by using Y-DNA in association with robust genealogy.
You can read about Mike's work in the FTDNA blog co-written with Dr Esther Fitzpatrick: DASTs, CASTs, and the Quest to Reclaim Lost Irish Clans. And you can review his publications, genetic and otherwise, at Google Scholar.
Fitzpatrick Research
The Fitzpatrick Clan Society are the leaders in Fitzpatrick history and genealogy, with twenty-eight peer-reviewed articles published since 2020, with topics that include:
The Mac Giolla Phádraig of Ossory; Colonial American Fitzpatrick settlers;
The Branan of County Kilkenny; Mac Giolla Phádraig clerical lineages;
Pátraic and related surnames in the Fiants and Patents of Ireland;
The Mac Giolla Phádraig Dál gCais; The MacFynen of County Laois;
The letters of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, first Baron of Upper Ossory;
Clan Costigan of County Tipperary and County Laois;
The Ó Maol Phádraig surname and clans;
The pedigrees of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, first Baron of Upper Ossory;
The Daltons of Kildalton; The new era of genetic genealogy;
The Mac Giolla Phádraig Laighin; The rent books of Captain Richard Fitzpatrick;
The will of Colonel John Fitzpatrick
