Maltese Surnames

Main contributor: MyHeritage Team

Maltese surnames are those carried by individuals in the island nation of Malta, as well as in the Maltese diaspora in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States. They reflect the island nation's complicated history, varied influences, and strategic location in the Mediterranean. Though the Maltese language is part of the Semitic family of languages and very close to Tunisian Arabic, the majority of surnames in Malta are of Italian origin, particularly Sicilian. This blend of linguistic and cultural identities distinguishes Maltese surnames in Europe and provides a valuable resource for genealogical research.

History of Maltese surnames

Malta's location between Europe and North Africa has long rendered it a crossroads of civilizations. The Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Knights of St. John, French, and British all dominated the islands at different points in time. Each era left its imprint on the Maltese language, culture, and naming practices. During Arab control (870-1091), the local populace began speaking a Semitic dialect that eventually evolved into modern Maltese. However, with the Norman invasion and absorption into the Kingdom of Sicily, Latin cultural and administrative influences took precedence. Over the years, several families adopted or were awarded surnames of Italian origin, a practice that became more pronounced during the long reign of the Knights Hospitaller (1530-1798), many of them were descended from noble Italian families.

Maltese naming customs

The Maltese people often use a given name followed by a single family surname, as is customary in Western Europe. Double surnames are uncommon and are often reserved for royalty or modern personal preference. While the Maltese language has substantial Arabic roots, particularly in lexicon and syntax, the surnames are mostly derived from Italian. Surnames often represent occupations, locations of origin, physical characteristics, or ancestral names, matching naming practices in Sicily and southern Italy.

Maltese surnames spelling variations

Because of Malta's multilingual heritage and the impact of many colonial powers, surnames can occur in a variety of ways throughout history. For example, in earlier Italian records, Grech may appear as Greco, and in Spanish papers, Borg may appear as Burgo. British rule from the early nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries also introduced English transcribing processes, which occasionally altered spellings in civil or religious records. It is also fairly uncommon to see families change their surname to better reflect their social or religious affiliations. Some Jewish-origin surnames, for example, became Christianized or Italicized over time.

Common Maltese surnames

Many of Malta’s most common surnames are clearly Italian or Sicilian in origin. Examples include:

Zammit – Possibly from the Arabic Zamīt, but Italianized over time, meaning "of serious disposition".
Azzopardi – Believed to be of Jewish or Sicilian origin, possibly meaning “of Sephardic origin.”
Grech – From the Italian Greco, meaning “Greek.”
Fenech – Possibly from the Arabic fenek (rabbit) or a Sicilian adaptation.
Cassar – From Latin Caesar, possibly indicating nobility or stature.
Adami – From Adam, the first man according to The Bible.
Spiteri – A common occupational surname possibly derived from the Italian ospedaliere (hospitalier).
Borg – One of Malta’s most common surnames; its exact origin is debated but may relate to a place or fortress (borgo in Italian).

Despite their Italian appearance, these names have a strong Maltese identity and pronunciation, with various local variants and spellings. One interesting aspect of Maltese surnames is that over three-quarters of the Maltese population share the same roughly 100 surnames, indicating a high degree of close blood relationships.^[1]

Celebrities with Maltese surnames

Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and 2020 US presidential candidate
Agatha Barbara, Maltese politician, the first woman to serve as president of Malta
Bronson Xerri, Australian Rugby player
Gaia Cauchi, Maltese singer, winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013
Oliver James Borg D'Anastasi, better known as OJ Borg, British radio and television presenter
Orlando E. Caruana, Maltese-American soldier who fought in the American Civil War, recipient of the the Medal of Honor

Explore more about Maltese surnames

Last names on MyHeritage
Historical record collections from Malta on MyHeritage

References

↑ Why most Maltese share the same 100 surnames. Times of Malta

[1] Why most Maltese share the same 100 surnames. Times of Malta

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