Explore the Family Name Malta
The meaning of Malta
1. Italian (southern), Spanish, and Portuguese: habitational or ethnic name for someone from the Mediterranean island of Malta (from Latin Melita, Greek Melitē). 2. Dutch: habitational name from any of the places called Malt(h)a, in the Netherlands, named after the Mediterranean island of Malta. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Angelo, Carmela, Luigi, Palma, Sal, Vito. Spanish Alejandro, Luis, Luz, Mercedes, Ramon, Santiago.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Malta in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Malta has seen a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Malta ranked 25,845 in terms of surname prevalence, but fell to 28,883 by 2010, indicating a drop of approximately 11.75%. The number of individuals with the Malta surname also decreased from 894 in 2000 to 823 in 2010, showing a decrease of nearly 7.94%. The proportion of this surname per 100,000 people similarly went down by 15.15% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,845 | #28,883 | -11.75% |
| Count | 894 | 823 | -7.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.28 | -15.15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Malta
When it comes to ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. An overwhelming majority of individuals with the Malta surname identified as White, although their percentage decreased from 66.44% in 2000 to 58.32% in 2010. Conversely, those identifying as Hispanic increased from 28.52% to 39.61% within the same timeframe. The fraction of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those claiming two or more races saw a significant decrease in 2010, with the data for Asian/Pacific Islander being suppressed for privacy. The Malta surname had no individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000, but by 2010, there was a small percentage (0.85%) who identified as Black.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 66.44% | 58.32% | -12.22% |
| Hispanic | 28.52% | 39.61% | 38.88% |
| Two or More Races | 2.57% | 0.85% | -66.93% |
| Black | 0% | 0.85% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.57% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |