Robert Fitch

(male) One of the many French names of Germanic origin that were introduced into Britain by the Normans; it has since remained in continuous use. It is derived from the nearly synonymous elements hrōd ‘fame’ + berht ‘bright, famous’, and had a native Old English predecessor of similar form (Hreodbeorht), which was supplanted by the Norman name. Two dukes of Normandy in the 11th century bore the name: the father of William the Conqueror (sometimes identified with the legendary Robert the Devil), and his eldest son. It was borne also by three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce (1274–1329), who freed Scotland from English domination. The altered short form Bob is very common, but Hob and Dob, which were common in the Middle Ages and gave rise to surnames, are extinct. See also Rupert.

English: of disputed origin. Reaney rejects the traditional explanation that it is a nickname derived from early modern English fitch ‘polecat’, as this word is not recorded in this form until the 16th century, whereas the byname or surname Fitchet is found as early as the 12th century. He proposes instead that the name may be from Old French fiche ‘stake’ (used as a boundary marker), but with the sense ‘iron point’, and so a metonymic occupational name for a workman who used an ironpointed implement.