Cassar: A Name Fit for Castles and Cloth!

Have you ever met someone called Cassar and wondered what their name might mean? It’s a very interesting surname from Malta: let’s explore its story in a super fun way!

The name Cassar probably comes from Arabic words used when Malta was ruled by Muslim people. One idea is that it comes from the Arabic qaṣr (قصر), which means palace or castle. Over time, that became the Sicilian word càssaru, and then the name we know: Cassar.But that is not the only explanation! Another is that it comes from ḥaṣṣār (حصّار) in Arabic, meaning mat‑maker (like someone who weaves mats), or someone who works with cloth called a fuller. That was used a lot in Sicily too and likely became Cassar in Malta.

Some people also say the name might come from Cesare, like Caesar, or even be linked to a word for house from Latin, though these ideas are less certain.

No matter which one is right, the name Cassar is very old in Malta. In fact, it is one of the most common surnames on the island.

There were some amazing Maltese people with this name too!

Girolamo Cassar was a famous architect and engineer who helped build the city of Valletta in the 1500s. He designed the Grandmaster’s Palace, Saint John’s Co‑Cathedral, and other important buildings.

His son, Vittorio Cassar, followed in his footsteps as an engineer and helped strengthen the fort of Gozo called the Cittadella in the early 1600s.

A modern name you might hear is Antoine Cassar, a celebrated Maltese poet and translator. His poems have travelled all around the world and won prizes!

Isn’t that brilliant? A name that could mean castle, mat-maker or even Caesar, and ties into Malta’s past and its heroes—architects, warriors, and artists!

#MaltaDaily