Maltese Americans Explained

Group:Maltese Americans
Maltin Amerikani
Pop:42,058[1]
0.01% of the U.S. population (2019)
Langs:English, Maltese, Maltese Italian
Popplace:Detroit, New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago
Rels:Roman Catholicism
Related:Italian Americans, Sicilian Americans, Corsican American, Maltese Canadians, Maltese Australians, British Maltese

Maltese Americans (Maltese: Maltin Amerikani or Maltin tal-Amerika) are Americans with Maltese ancestry.[2]

History

The first immigrants from Malta to the United States arrived during the mid-eighteenth century to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Many Americans assumed Malta was part of Italy. In some cases "Born Malta, Italy" was put on tombstones of Maltese because of the confusion.[3]

20th century

After World War I, in 1919, Maltese immigration to the US increased. In the first quarter of 1920 more than 1,300 Maltese immigrated to the United States. Detroit, Michigan, with jobs in the expanding automobile industry, drew the largest share of immigrants. It is believed that in the following years, more than 15,000 Maltese people emigrated to the United States, later getting U.S. citizenship.

A significant percentage of early Maltese immigrants intended to stay only temporarily for work, but many settled in the US permanently. In addition to Detroit, other industrial cities such as New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago attracted Maltese immigrants.[4]

After World War II the Maltese government committed to pay passage costs to Maltese people who wanted to emigrate and live at least two years abroad. This program led to increased emigration by the people of the island and made up approximately 8,000 Maltese who arrived to the United States between the years 1947 and 1977. Malta's government promoted Maltese emigration because Malta was overpopulated.[4]

Demography

Estimates of the number of Maltese immigrants and their descendants living in the US by 1990 have been as high as 70,000. The majority of Americans of Maltese descent continued to live in the same cities where immigration had taken place, particularly Detroit (approximately 44,000 Maltese) and New York City (more than 20,000 Maltese); in the latter, most of the people of Maltese origin are concentrated in Astoria, Queens. San Francisco and Chicago also have significant populations.[4]

The 2019 American Community Survey estimated that there were 42,058 Americans of Maltese ancestry living in the United States.[5] Of these, 14,078 have Maltese as their only ancestry.[6] This includes Maltese born immigrants to the United States, their American-born descendants as well as numerous immigrants from other nations of Maltese origin. Around 6,506 of them are foreign born.[7]

Religion

As in their country of origin, Maltese Americans predominantly practice Roman Catholicism as their religion. Many are practicing Catholics, attending church every week and actively participating in their local parishes.[4]

Notable people

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year estimates.
  2. Diane Andreassi, "Maltese Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 163-170. online
  3. Book: Maltese in Michigan.
  4. Web site: Maltese Americans - History, Modern era, The first maltese in america, Settlement. www.everyculture.com.
  5. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2022-01-16. data.census.gov.
  6. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2022-01-16. data.census.gov.
  7. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2022-01-16. data.census.gov.
  8. News: Ingham judge has creative life off the bench with new crime thriller. Judy Putnam. January 12, 2018. Lansing State Journal.
  9. News: Life amongst Minions... for Kyle Balda. July 30, 2015. The Irish Independent. June 22, 2015.
  10. News: Grima. John. Successful Maltese migrants. 25 January 2011. The Times. 22 March 2005. Malta.
  11. South Bend Tribune Obituary of Joseph Anthony Buttigieg II. South Bend, Indiana. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  12. Web site: 2000 Winning Essay by Peter Buttigieg . Tom McNaught . John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum . jfklibrary.org . May 2, 2000. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum .
  13. News: . Across from Malta. . October 21, 1934 . 2015-11-11 .
  14. Web site: Orlando E Caruana . 20 October 2013.
  15. Web site: News From Rep. Camilleri. 2016-12-16. housedems.com. en. 2019-08-06.
  16. Web site: Verdict: Prolific DeBrincat brushes off defenders, doubters. Bob Verdi. May 8, 2017. nhl.com.
  17. Web site: Hendel . Talia . Q&A: Aaron Falzon's Memorable Summer with Team Malta . Nu sports.
  18. Web site: ✍️ Tevin Falzon makes switch to Bristol Flyers. July 12, 2018.
  19. daniellefishel . 273910088794787842. 28 November 2012 . @briannaberlen thank you! I'm 50% Maltese and 50% everything else..
  20. http://www.maltamigration.com/history/exodus/chapter4-8.shtml "The Maltese in New York"
  21. Web site: Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots! . 2018-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120603062741/http://www.maltesefootballstarlets.com/joseph-lapira-another-player-maltese-roots . 2012-06-03 . dead .
  22. [Drawn & Quarterly]
  23. Book: Spears, Lynne . September 16, 2008 . Chapter 2: Kentwood – From Malta to Louisiana . Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World . https://books.google.com/books?id=eOiunEB5ccMC&pg=PA4 . 1st . Nashville, Tennessee . . 4 . 978-1-4185-6735-4 . February 19, 2014 . But on my mama's side, the family tree is a little more colorful and glamorous. Her father, my grandfather, was Anthony Portelli, who came from the island of Malta..
  24. Web site: Charlie Williams. Valletta FC.net. 27 May 2018. 2012. Valletta FC.

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