Spiteri: The Hospitable Name with a Hospitaller Secret!

Have you ever heard the name Spiteri and wondered what it meant? It is a super common name in Malta, and it has a history that is full of helpful heroes!

One idea is that Spiteri comes from the old Latin word hospitalieri or the Italian spitaleri, which means hospital worker or Knight Hospitaller, a brave helper who looked after people a long time ago.Another idea is that the name might link to the Maltese word spiteru, meaning spice merchant or grocer. That could be because people with the name may have dealt in spices or served the community by providing food.

Whichever one is right, it sure is a friendly name, full of service and caring!

People named Spiteri are everywhere in Malta—so many that about one in every sixty people on the island has this surname! Some places like Żejtun, Birkirkara, and Qormi have especially high numbers of Spiteris.

Famous Spiteris from Malta include:

Myriam Spiteri Debono, who became President of Malta in April 2024. She is the first woman from Gozo to become president!

Lino Spiteri, a writer and politician who served as Finance Minister and wrote stories about Maltese life.

Joseph M. Spiteri, a talented architect who helped bring modern buildings and city designs to Malta after the war.

Isn’t that marvellous? A name that might mean hospital worker or grocer, held by people who look after others, tell stories, lead a nation, or shape the buildings around us.

#MaltaDaily