Fitzhenry

The name Fitzhenry is of Anglo-Norman origin. The prefix ‘fitz’ means ‘son of’ and was common among the Anglo-Norman families who settled in Ireland in the Middle Ages. According to family tradition the Fitzhenrys are descended from Henry, the illegitimate son of Henry I by Nesta, the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdur, the king of South Wales. Their son Meiler fitzHenry (d. 1220), accompanied Robert fitzStephen to Ireland. FitzStephen was an adventurer who was recruited by Diarmait Mac Murchada in south Wales in 1167 to help him recover his kingdom of Leinster. Meiler received land grants in Leinster from Strongbow and in Meath from Hugh de Lacy.

Several centuries later my great great great grandfather Michael Fitzhenry (1810-71) appeared on the scene. According to one source (the Lines Family Tree) he came from Co. Waterford in Ireland. Was he related to the famous Norman Fitzhenrys? However, the 1851 Census says that he was born in Bristol. It remains a mystery, but the story since then is much clearer.

Brief Summary

Michael Fitzhenry (c.1810-71)	Born abt. 1810 in Bristol. The Fitzhenry family seems to have come from Co. Waterford in Ireland. Occupation: printer's warehouseman. Married Elizabeth Kemp (abt. 1812-77). 8 children. My great grandfather Harry was the youngest. Other children included Benjamin (b. 1848) and Jane (b.1850) who married Joseph Lines. Michael died on 4 December 1871 and Elizabeth died on 28 March 1877.
Harry Fitzhenry (1855-1936)	Born 17 Jan. 1855. Bapt. 15 April 1855 at St. Bride, Fleet Street, London. Occupation: manager of a metal letter foundry. Married Martha Mary Ann Dawes. Five children. Constance (b. 1881) was my maternal grandmother. Charles (b. 1890) was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Harry died in 1836.
Constance	Born 15 March 1881. Married my grandfather Llewellyn George Petty on 9 June 1906. Four children: Reginald (1907-45); Kenneth (1909-87); Charles (1922-?), and Barbara (1924- ). Died on 8 January 1859 at Westcliff-on-Sea.

Other Fitzhenry Researchers

Lesley Champion