The Meaning And Origin Of The Surname Borg

Borg is a common surname in the Nordic countries as well as in Malta. But what does Borg actually mean? And where did it come from?

Believe it or not, Borg isn’t originally Maltese. The name goes way, way back to the Vikings in Scandinavia. In Old Norse (the language spoken by Vikings), borg meant a fort or a castle a stronghold to retreat to when enemies came knocking.

As time went on, the word borg spread across Europe. In German, it became burg think Hamburg or Strasbourg. Even in English, we find names like Edinburgh or Canterbury. They all trace back to the idea of a safe, walled place.

Malta has been ruled by many different civilisations over the centuries Normans, Sicilians, Arabs, and the Knights of St John, to name a few. It’s likely that the surname Borg arrived with settlers from Italy or Sicily during the Middle Ages, and it quickly became popular… and stayed that way.

Today, Borg is one of the most common surnames in Malta. It no longer means “fort”, but it still carries a sense of strength and history. Having the surname Borg is like being connected to deep roots ancient warriors, stone walls, and maybe even Vikings.

Fun fact:

According to official records, Borg is the second most common surname in Malta. So if your last name is Borg, you’re part of a pretty massive Maltese team!

#MaltaDaily