A list of
Families from all sorts of backgrounds including the nobility, politicians,
chief justices, Archbishops, Foreign distinctions and also from the
ancient fiefdoms of Malta and Sicily.
A progressive web site, research and a guide to much
genealogical data of established families. A national pride of heritage
truly displayed online with much connections to a many Maltese
descendants.
Malta now part of Europe, can show off their distinguish ancestors, colourful or
not and blue-blooded or tainted. The most interesting aspect now is that
many can claim family through the world, as the Maltese have settled in
every corner of the globe and we should continue to record our past and
our future as we continue to grow.
A research website based on well-established family trees
in Malta. Many families
are of ancient lineages and connect to the Maltese nobility and landed
gentry, and may inherit a contrasting slave or royal ancestry.
Maltageneaology.com has been on-line now since 1999.
Initially, our prime material was based on Count Gauci's superb
works published in the 1980s and 1990s. The idea was to promote a fuller
appreciation of his work, by adding on-line new connections of families
and their descendant.
The Maltese race is truly unique and possesses a vast array of
genealogical data, which for many centuries was inaccessible to the
general population. Count Gauci's work started a revolution in further
genealogical research in Malta, enhancing an appreciation of
much sought-after data to many in and outside Malta.
Note that those of Maltese descent reside in virtually every
corner of the WORLD. Today, through computer technology, access to data,
advice and research material have become increasingly accessible to one
and all.
Maltagenealogy.com also was an offshoot that grew from the stem of
histories written for maltesenobility.org which later developed into an
alliance and which has stood the test of time. Over the years, many
people have come and gone, though one person who is still there is
vigilantly curious to ensure his family is kept angelic in every manner.
Like many typical Maltese families, one invariably encounters the good
with the bad.
It is worth remembering that the Maltese of old did what they saw
as good for themselves and their families, to either survive or to rise
through the ranks of status within the Knights of Malta.
Any one who is able to claim a lineage descent to an ancient
family (prior to the Knights) is now able to trace their ancestors to the
Mediterranean feudal and royal. It is
certainly not difficult to find a descendant of the Royal Houses of
D'Aragona, Hauteville, Castile and the Imperial family of
Hohenstaufen.
Although other families can claim descent to the Imperial families
of the Byzantine Empire, the Ducal House of Crispo, Gattiulisio, the
Imperial House of the Ottoman Empire or through many rich royal families
of Europe and its nobility.
We have started to locate connections to knights who passed on
their surnames to their offspring.
These knights were truly colourful, though from a genealogist
viewpoint, their ancestry is connected to high noble connections and may
include the clergy, the Knights, Grand Masters of the Knights, nobles and
landed gentry. Malta is certainly very rich in its
makeup and we are all very lucky to be connected to such origins.
We also have many descendants of slaves. Though slavery was rife
until the 18th century, whereafter Napoleon abolished the slavery trade
and the employment of slaves. Though, I can surmise that many families
may lay claim to at least one slave connection as a descent of a slave or
owner of such.
Slaves, according to Dr Godfrey Wettinger, had come to Malta from all over the Mediterranean, from as far as Ethiopia, Albania, Greece, the Holy Land and the Ottoman Empire. Trade was important.
One also had to come to terms to with those captured from Gozo
over the centuries. It is interesting to note, that those who were
captured centuries before are now lost in their forbears. Gozo was an
island where raids were frequent and very little Gozitans were ransomed
and brought back to Malta. Note as well that there were
many who converted to Christianity and were baptised with their master's
surname or the town/estate where they were working.
The British connection added yet another dimension to Malta’s colourful ancestry. A
good few Maltese families can either claim to be a descendant of a
British family or have a member married into a British family.
Today, in the 21st century, history, genealogy and origins make up
an important part of one’s lives. This helps one understand if
their family were hard-workers, lucky go lucky or social climbers. In
comparison to other countries, Malta was very much the centre of the
world for much of the last 1000 years.
Our heritage is very important to all and helps us appreciate
where we come from and ensures that our descendents know of their past.
This includes the continuation of our ancient characteristics, including
noble titles and distinctions of our forebears, which are essential
knowledge, although by today’s standards, are meaningless. However,
our past, which we should have every right to be able to enjoy what our
ancestors have achieved or attained through varied connections.
We hope now to produce our first print publication in the near
future, which we hope will become a centrepiece for many to have in their
home library. So hold on to your chairs and wait for further news in the
near future. Our aim is to regularly produce and publish the "Libro
d’Oro di Melita" which will feature many more descendents and
additional families in each publication.
Remember, this website relies on research and materials provided
by our audience. If your connected to a family online, please E-Mail us
and we shall advise you what we would require.
Also we are also accepting new family trees that are published,
ensuring that ones family starts from about the 17th century
or beyond. Or you can send such data/queries to see if we have any
connections in our web site or our archives.
Maltagenealogy.com now has a search engine, which makes it easier
to locate any connections.
We should pride ourselves on our Maltese descent and heritage. We also have current research on descendants of our past and
present political leaders since the fall of the Knights. The aim is to
expand our web site to help others to connect with such lineages. We
offer links to those who attempt to do their own family trees
Thus our aim is to publish our first Maltese LIBRO
D’ORO DI MELITA (Golden Book of Malta), which will be based on what
is currently on our web site.
Lastly, we provide other
interesting articles of a historical nature and have also made links with
a migration historian in Australia.
We aim to provide as much accessible data online as is
possible.
Thank you very much for spending
time on Maltagenealogy.com and hope you come back in future.
Web-Master and Editor: Charles Said Vassallo
Copyright © 2000,
2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2010. Maltagenealogy.com
