One thing that always bemused me was the use of "Bastard" as a surname... Surely that's not something that one would want to advertise?
And of course Fitz hyphenated onto a name means "bastard son." I agree - why would you want to make that public?
Fitz was Norman-French for son, fils, in a time before surnames. An example of an equivalent surname is Johnson. Neither necessarily indicates illegitimacy.
I've been misinformed! Thanks for the info!
Why would you want to make that public? Another notch on the bed-post perhaps, virility, ego?
French - it was a child of your mistress, rather than you wife.
I've heard of a Philip le Bastard.
See also the Sons of Philip of Bergundy, Corneille and Anthony,
Anthony bore the title Grand bātard de Bergundy
Anthony Bastard of Bergundy
Mark