Maltese (surname)

Maltese is an Italian surname, meaning literally "Maltese" or "from Malta".

The Maltese surname is derived from the name of the island of Malta. As such it is classed as a local name, derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, and does not necessarily denote nobility. This island is situated south of Sicily and, beginning in the 16th century BC, it was ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthagenians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs. After the Norman Conquest of Malta in July 1090, the island became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. While a subject of this kingdom from the 11th to 16th centuries, Malta had many rulers, including the Normans under the House of Hauteville, the Germans under the House of Hohenstaufen, the French under the House of Anjou, the Spanish under the House of Aragon, and the Austrians under the House of Hapsburg. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Malta was still nominally under the Kingdom of Sicily and was ruled by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. From 1798 to 1800, Malta was under the French Republic and, from 1800 to 1964, it was part of the British Empire. The surname Malta is found in almost all the countries of the Mediterranean basin.

Notable people with the surname include:

• Dario Maltese (born 1992) Italian footballer
• Michael Maltese, American writer, actor, soundtrack composer
• Serphin Maltese, American politician
• Dayana Maltese, Italo-Venezuelan award winning Entrepreneur
• Jeeny Maltese, Ítalo-Venezuelan Tv-Chef & Magazine Director