Agius: The Holiest Name on the Island!

Have you ever heard the surname Agius and wondered what it means? It is a very common Maltese name, and it has some cool stories behind it!

One explanation is that Agius comes from the Greek word hagios, which means holy or saintly. That suggests the name was a special nickname for someone who was very good or pious.Another idea is that it comes from the Arabic word ʿajūz, meaning old man or old woman. That might mean the name was once a friendly nickname for someone wise and full of stories!

It is one of the most common surnames in Malta so many people share it that you might meet one in every street or playground!

The name Agius is held by many famous Maltese people, like:

Canon Giovanni Pietro Francesco Agius de Soldanis, a clever historian, linguist and much-loved teacher from Gozo who wrote the first grammar of the Maltese language in the 1700s.

Anton Agius, a sculptor known as the “national sculptor” because he created many important monuments all around Malta.

Gilbert Agius, a football hero who played for Malta over 120 times and scored many goals for his hometown club, Valletta.

So next time you meet someone called Agius, you can say their name might mean holy, or maybe it was a loving nod to someone wise and old and it belongs to a rich Maltese story filled with artists, thinkers and champions!

#MaltaDaily