Edited by author 16-09-2009 11:44 PM
As the link claims that only fitzroy have a connection to William the conqueror, Are there any records that can connect fitzsimons origin in this particular era? I assume simon de montford or some other cousin of william the conqueror had offspring who were named fitz-- and that this did not continue down the line. for example william had a son and his son was called simon fitzwilliam (son of william) who had a son called william fitzsimons (son of simon) what we can ascertain is that they were involved in the Norman invasion in 1066. Initially they were pagan until Rollo converted all of them to christianity like king canute
Mingling in with the french they became Catholic, until henry the 8th changed the religion for his divorce so some stayed catholic and some became protestant. old Catholic cemetery in Hannahstown there lays the old priest Father jack Fitzsimons. Its a cert that politics would come into any surname search in norn ireland!