Malta 2011 Census · 19,104 surnames recorded
Most Common Maltese Surnames
The 11 most common surnames in Malta from the 2011 Census, with language origins and etymologies. The top 10 account for roughly 25% of the population — reflecting Arabic, Sicilian, Greek, Norman and Knights-era layers of Maltese history.
| # | Surname | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borg | Semitic | 'tower' / fortified place |
| 2 | Camilleri | Romance / Sicilian | 'camel driver' (from Latin camelus) |
| 3 | Vella | Romance / Sicilian | likely from 'bella' (beautiful) or a place/family name (uncertain) |
| 4 | Farrugia | Semitic / Arabic | linked to 'farruġ' – chick / young rooster2.9% of population |
| 5 | Zammit | Semitic / Arabic | debated; possibly from a personal name (uncertain) |
| 6 | Galea | Latin / Greek / Romance | 'galley' (ship) or 'helmet' (Latin galea) (uncertain) |
| 7 | Micallef | Semitic / Arabic | from a personal name (often linked to 'Michael') (uncertain) |
| 8 | Grech | Greek (via Italian 'Greco') | 'the Greek' |
| 9 | Attard | Germanic personal name | from a Norman/Germanic given name |
| 10 | Spiteri | Medieval Latin / Sicilian | 'hospitalier' (Knights) or 'spice merchant' (uncertain) |
| 11 | Azzopardi | Romance | often the 11th most common; debated origin (uncertain) |
Why Maltese surnames span so many languages
Malta's position at the centre of the Mediterranean made it a crossroads for centuries. Arab rule (870–1091) left a deep imprint on the local language and names — Borg, Farrugia and many others derive from Arabic or Siculo-Arabic roots. Subsequent Norman, Sicilian and Aragonese influence brought Romance surnames (Camilleri, Vella). The Knights of St John (1530–1798) introduced a further Latin-Italian layer. Greek traders gave Malta surnames like Grech, while Norman settlers account for Germanic names like Attard.
The result is a surname landscape unlike anywhere else in Europe — Few surnames are 'Maltese' per se; the mix reflects Arabic, Sicilian/Italian, Greek, Norman and Knights-era layers.