Maltese Americans(Maltese:Maltin AmerikaniorMaltin tal-Amerika) are Americans withMalteseancestry.[3]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 42,058[1] c.0.01% of the U.S. population (2019) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Detroit,New York City,San Francisco,andChicago[2] | |
| Languages | |
| English,Maltese,Maltese Italian | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Italian Americans,Sicilian Americans,Corsican American,Maltese Canadians,Maltese Australians,British Maltese |
History
editThe first immigrants fromMaltato the United States arrived during the mid-eighteenth century to the city ofNew Orleans, Louisiana.Many Americans assumed Malta was part of Italy. In some cases "Born Malta, Italy" was put on tombstones of Maltese because of the confusion.[4]
20th century
editAfterWorld War I,in 1919, Maltese immigration to the US increased. In the first quarter of 1920 more than 1,300 Maltese immigrated to the United States.Detroit,Michigan,with jobs in the expanding automobile industry, drew the largest share of immigrants. It is believed that in the following years, more than 15,000 Maltese people emigrated to the United States, later getting U.S. citizenship.
A significant percentage of early Maltese immigrants intended to stay only temporarily for work, but many settled in the US permanently. In addition to Detroit, other industrial cities such asNew York City,San Francisco,andChicagoattracted Maltese immigrants.[2]
After World War II the Maltese government committed to pay passage costs to Maltese people who wanted to emigrate and live at least two years abroad. This program led to increased emigration by the people of the island and made up approximately 8,000 Maltese who arrived to the United States between the years 1947 and 1977. Malta's government promoted Maltese emigration because Malta was overpopulated.[2]
Demography
editEstimates of the number of Maltese immigrants and their descendants living in the US by 1990 have been as high as 70,000. The majority of Americans of Maltese descent continued to live in the same cities where immigration had taken place, particularly Detroit (approximately 44,000 Maltese) and New York City (more than 20,000 Maltese); in the latter, most of the people of Maltese origin are concentrated inAstoria, Queens.San Francisco and Chicago also have significant populations.[2]
The 2019American Community Surveyestimated that there were 42,058 Americans of Maltese ancestry living in the United States.[5]Of these, 14,078 have Maltese as their only ancestry.[6]This includes Maltese born immigrants to the United States, their American-born descendants as well as numerous immigrants from other nations of Maltese origin. Around 6,506 of them are foreign born.[7]
Religion
editAs in their country of origin, Maltese Americans predominantly practiceRoman Catholicismas their religion. Many are practicing Catholics, attending church every week and actively participating in their local parishes.[2]
Notable people
edit- Rosemarie Aquilina,[8]judge
- Kyle Balda,[9]animator and film director
- Joseph Borg,[10]financial regulator
- James J. Busuttil,international law scholar and company director
- Joseph Anthony Buttigieg II,[11]literary scholar and translator
- Pete Buttigieg,[12]former mayor ofSouth Bend, Indiana,2020 presidential candidate,US Secretary of Transportation
- Joseph Calleia,[13]actor and singer
- Orlando E. Caruana,[14]Medal of Honorwinner inAmerican Civil War
- Darrin Q. Camilleri,[15]member of theMichigan House of Representatives
- Alex DeBrincat,[16]hockey player
- Aaron Falzon,[17]basketball player
- Tevin Falzon,[18]basketball player
- Danielle Fishel,[19]actress
- Nazzareno Formosa,[20]Roman-Catholic priest
- Joseph Lapira,[21]professional soccer player
- Joe Sacco,[22]cartoonist and journalist
- Britney Spears,[23]singer
- Bryan Spears,[23]film and television producer
- Jamie Lynn Spears,[23]actress and singer
- Lynne Spears,[23]author
- Charlie Williams,[24]professional soccer player
- Frank Zarb,businessman and politician
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"2019 American Community Survey 1-Year estimates".
- ^abcde"Maltese Americans - History, Modern era, The first maltese in america, Settlement".www.everyculture.com.
- ^Diane Andreassi, "Maltese Americans."Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 163-170.online
- ^Maltese in Michigan.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.Retrieved2022-01-16.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.Retrieved2022-01-16.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.Retrieved2022-01-16.
- ^Judy Putnam (January 12, 2018)."Ingham judge has creative life off the bench with new crime thriller".Lansing State Journal.
- ^"Life amongst Minions... for Kyle Balda".The Irish Independent.June 22, 2015.RetrievedJuly 30,2015.
- ^Grima, John (22 March 2005)."Successful Maltese migrants".The Times.Malta.Retrieved25 January2011.
- ^South Bend TribuneObituary of Joseph Anthony Buttigieg II.South Bend, Indiana. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- ^Tom McNaught;John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum(May 2, 2000)."2000 Winning Essay by Peter Buttigieg".jfklibrary.org.
- ^"Across from Malta".The New York Times.October 21, 1934.Retrieved2015-11-11.
- ^"Orlando E Caruana".Retrieved20 October2013.
- ^"News From Rep. Camilleri".housedems.com.2016-12-16.Retrieved2019-08-06.
- ^Bob Verdi (May 8, 2017)."Verdict: Prolific DeBrincat brushes off defenders, doubters".nhl.com.
- ^Hendel, Talia."Q&A: Aaron Falzon's Memorable Summer with Team Malta".Nu sports.
- ^"✍️ Tevin Falzon makes switch to Bristol Flyers".July 12, 2018.
- ^@daniellefishel (28 November 2012)."@briannaberlen thank you! I'm 50% Maltese and 50% everything else"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^"The Maltese in New York",Malta Migration.Retrieved on 20 July 2016.
- ^"Joseph Lapira - Another Player with Maltese Roots!".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-03.Retrieved2018-05-28.
- ^Drawn & Quarterly(2004).Joe Sacco: Biography.Retrieved April 24, 2006.
- ^abcdSpears, Lynne (September 16, 2008)."Chapter 2: Kentwood – From Malta to Louisiana".Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World(1st ed.). Nashville, Tennessee:Thomas Nelson, Inc.p. 4.ISBN978-1-4185-6735-4.RetrievedFebruary 19,2014.
But on my mama's side, the family tree is a little more colorful and glamorous. Her father, my grandfather, was Anthony Portelli, who came from the island of Malta.
- ^"Charlie Williams".Valletta FC.net.Valletta FC.2012.Retrieved27 May2018.
Further reading
edit- Andreassi, Diane. "Maltese Americans."Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 163–170.online
- Andreassi, Diane.Maltese in Detroit(Arcadia, 2011).
- Cassar, Paul.Early Relations between Malta and the United States of America(Valletta, Malta: Midsea Books, 1976).
- Lubig, Joseph M.Maltese in Michigan(Michigan State University Press, 2011).
External links
edit- Maltese American Benevolent Societyin Detroit