The Mystery of the Maltese Name: Mifsud!

Have you ever heard the surname Mifsud and wondered where it comes from? It’s a very old Maltese name with a few surprising stories behind it!

One interesting idea is that the name comes from Old Norman words miferes, meaning faithful, and sud, meaning south. That would make Mifsud mean something like southern faithful a loyal person from the south. This suggestion links the name to Spain, Sicily and Malta.But that is not all! Some researchers say the name might come from Arabic roots like mifṣad meaning lancet or mafṣūdmeaning lanced, maybe used as a nickname in old times.

That makes Mifsud extra fascinating, because it carries both Norman and Arabic history a real mix of cultures that shaped Malta!

Lots of important Maltese people have the name Mifsud, too:

Immanuel Mifsud is a famous Maltese writer and poet he even won a European Union Prize for Literature in 2011.

Ugo Pasquale Mifsud was the third Prime Minister of Malta, and he was the first to finish a full term in office.

There are also football stars like Adrian Mifsud and Michael Mifsud, as well as judges, writers, and musicians all carrying this storied name.

So next time someone says their name is Mifsud, you can tell them their name might mean southern faithful or maybe it’s related to a tiny blade called a lancet and that they belong to a long, exciting Maltese history full of leaders, artists, and writers.

#MaltaDaily