Cassar Explained

Cassar (in Maltese pronounced as /kɐs'sɐːr/) is a Maltese surname, common both in Malta and the wider Maltese diaspora. It is considered part of the 14 most numerous surnames in Malta.^{[1] [2]}

Origin

According to Maltese linguist Mario Cassar, the surname is of Arabic origin, and derives from the Muslim period of Malta. It is proposed that the meaning comes from (Arabic: قَصْر,). ^{[1] [3]} The Sicilian word, which is descendant of and has a similar meaning, is a latinisation which closely resembles "Cassar".^{[2] [4]}

An alternative Arabic origin is from (Arabic: حَصَّار,). The Arabic voiceless pharyngeal fricative ([{{IPA|ħ}}], or [ḥ]) evolved into a voiceless velar plosive ([{{IPA|k}}]) through spoken Sicilian Arabic in rural locations, resulting in the modern pronunciation. This 'Sicilianisation' can also be seen in other Maltese surnames of Arabic origin, and likely occurred during the 14th and 15th centuries when Maltese Muslims were forced to latinise their surnames during the Norman Occupation.^[5]

There are also various other proposed origins of the surname.:

• It may be traced back to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, incorporating the island of Sicily itself, the area around Naples, and the southern part of the Italian peninsula. The surname Cassar may have derived from the given name "Cesare," and further back from the Roman family name "Caesar." In Classical antiquity, the name "Caesar" was associated by folk etymology with the Latin word "caesaries" (meaning head of hair). The Maltese Cassar coat of arms has the Latin word "SPES" (meaning "hope") inscribed on it.
• It may also derive from a fairly common surname in Italy and Sicily: Cassara, or Cassarino, possibly from a nickname "cassaio" meaning "producer of cases". However these surnames may also be derived from the given name "Cesare" or "Caesar".

Notable people

The most important representatives of the family are the Cassar Desain, marchese de Sain in Malta and the Cassar Torregiani, one of the richest families in 19th century Malta. Other notable people with the name include:

• Antoine Cassar (born 1978), Maltese poet
• Brian Cassar (1936–2022), British singer and guitarist
• Girolamo Cassar (c. 1520–c. 1592), Maltese architect who designed many buildings in Valletta
• Joe Cassar (born 1966), Maltese politician
• Joseph Cassar (diplomat) (1947–2018), Maltese diplomat
• Joseph Cassar (politician) (1918–2001), Maltese politician

See also

• Norman invasion of Malta
• History of Malta
• Maltese Language
• Cassaro, Palermo

Bibliography

• https://web.archive.org/web/20100521194935/http://www.searchmalta.com/surnames/cassarde-sain/index.shtml
• https://web.archive.org/web/20100107034828/http://user.orbit.net.mt/fournier/cassar_torregiani.htm

Notes and References

1. News: Kristina Chetcuti. Why most Maltese share the same 100 surnames. 27 February 2015. Times of Malta. 9 February 2014.
2. Web site: Geoffrey Hull . The Oldest Maltese Surnames: A Window on Sicily's Medieval History. ResearchGate. 21 January 2024. 80 - 83.
3. Web site: Mario Cassar. Vestiges of Arabic Nomenclature in Maltese Surnames. Academia. 27 February 2015. 19.
4. Di Giovanni, Vincenzo (1890), La topografia antica di Palermo dal secolo X al XV. p. 83, 127.
5. Book: Goodwin, Stefan . 2002 . 2. Islam and Realignments . Malta, Mediterranean Bridge . Greenwood Publishing Group. 9780897898201 . illustrated.