Theobald Stapleton Fitz Thomas

[stapojj]

I am reading the "Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland - eighteenth report"
It is a list of all land owners and the detail of the land holdings by parish, around 1640.

The Stapletons lived in Drom Parish in Tipperary (still do) for 800 years

So, I come across "Theobald Stapleton Fitz Thomas".

I know that in 1640, Fitz may mean illegitimate (or it may not).

I have the father of the Theobald in question being a Patrick.
So, either I have a new Theobald or my info is wrong

My question is, does "Theobald Stapleton Fitz Thomas" mean that Theobald's father was Thomas, or could it mean a more distant notable Thomas?
 

[Mowsehowse]

I will hazard a guess because that's all anyone can do, and because no one else has replied as yet.

You have stated : "I know that in 1640, Fitz may mean illegitimate (or it may not)."

If Theobold has a different set of names than all "his" siblings, [i.e. the only one carrying names Stapleton or Fitz,] that would suggest to me Theo's circumstances are not as clear cut as the rest of the family. 
He might be an openly acknowledged illeg son of Patrick.
He might be openly owned by Patrick but the son of his wife.
He might be the son of a different branch but be in Patrick's household for any of many different reasons, as wealthier children were often sent away from their own parents to be raised in another household.

I fear your only hope of finding the definite answer lies in how common the name Theobold was in that area at that time.

[stapojj]

Exactly the type of reply I had hoped for.
I had forgotten the option of a son of another family branch which gives me another avenue to check.

Many thanks

[switcha]

Are the Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland online?