Submitted by Manuel Psaila
A
noteworthy aspect of Maltese society is the institution of the nobility, in
whose ranks may have been representatives of the honourable house of Chetcuti.
Indeed, as noted in 1905 by Allister Macmillan , "The fact that Malta, a mere
speck in the blue Mediterranean, has had a nobility from very remote times is
not the least of the many interesting and uncommon characteristics that
distinguish the island from all other overseas possessions of the British
Crown". The eleventh century ancestor of the distinguished Chetcuti family
lived during a period which witnessed the establishment of a Maltese nobility,
when Count Roger 1 of Sicily ended the period of Arab rule in Malta in 1090,
incorporating the islands into his own realm. To impose a system of taxation,
Roger divided the Maltese into 6 categories: Barons, Nobles, Knights,
Citizens, Burgesses and Rustics. Rogers successors in Sicily granted land in
Malta as fiefs to persons of gentle birth for payment of rent or military
service rendered, perhaps in their midst were Chetcuti family members. Fiefs
were sometimes hereditary, but could also be limited to an individual,
"Fiddien", bestowed upon the Santa Sofia family in 1287, is the oldest
documented fief in Malta. Acquisition of a fief automatically conferred noble
status, which entitled one to a seat on the "Consigilo Popolare" (People's
Council), the governing body of Malta and her people, including the noteworthy
forebears of the Chetcuti lineage. Over time, the more powerful noble families
began to gain hereditary possessions of the three most important executive
positions, "Capitano della Verga", (Civil Governor), Castellano, (Keeper of the
castle of St. Angelo) and "Secreto" (Collector of taxes and dues). The holders
of administrative and judicial subordinate to the Concilio Popolare were known
collectively as the "Giurati", who were drewn from leading families with those
who did not actually possess fiefs being accorded noble status.
The Maltese surname Chetcuti most probably is of an Italian origan and is a
typical example Anglicisation of an Italian surname. In this case the surname
woild be "Ceccuti". In English the syllable "che" is pronounced as the Italian
"ce" and the double "c" which usually is very difficult to perceive for non-
Italians, is rendered with "tc" particularly with the same result. Tracing the
origin of a Maltese family, is rather difficult. We must keep in mind that
Malta was ruled successively (starting from the sixteenth century B.C. ) by
the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs. With
the Norman conquest of Malta in July 1090, the island became part of the
kingdom of Sicily. While subject to this kingdom (1090 -1530), Malta had many
rulers, including the Normans (House of Hauterville), Germans (House of
Hofanstaufen, French (House of Anjou), Spanish (House of Aragon) and Austrians
(House of Hapsburg). From 1530 to 1798 Malta, still being nominally under the
Kingdom of Sicily, was ruled by the order of St. John of Jerusalem. From 1798
to 1800 it was under the French Republic, and from 1800 to 1964 was part of the
British Empire. The surname Ceccuti derives from a pet form of the personal
name Francesco, the name "Cecco", to which has been added the suffix -"uto" to
form "Caccuto". The final letter "I " of the surname denotes the plural form,
illustrating the process of the surname having been passed on from one
generation to the next.
As the closest variant to the surname Ceccuti, the "Dizionario Storico
Blasonico" a compilation of the Italian nobility, mentions a family by the name
of "Cecchi" belonging to the nobility of Florence since the fifteenth century.
The order of the Knights of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem (Knights
Hospitallers) were granted control of Malta by Emperor Charles V, a
contemporary of 16th Century bearers of the noteworthy family name Chetcuti, in
1530 and the Grand Master of the order became the effective ruler of the
country. The Hospitallers initially reduced the size of the nobility by
revoking the fiefs absentee nobles and by refusing to recognise the validity of
other fiefs. However, from 1710 on, the Hospitallers created a large number of
new noble titles, bet these titles did not entail actual possession of land.
After some initial friction, relations between the Hospitallers and the native
Maltese nobility improved considerably and the Maltese nobles continued to fill
the important executive posts in the government. During the period of British
rule (1814-1964), the antecedents of the House of Chetcuti were to see noble
titles became honorifica, conferring no special legal status or privileges. It
will be of interest to current bearers of the last name Chetcuti to learn that
there has never been a college of arms or heraldic authority in Malta and
hence, anyone may adopt a coat of arms of his or her choice, while showing
respect for the rights and sensibilities of others. According to the author
Charles A. Gauci, most extant Maltese blazons may be categorised as follows:
those granted with a title of nobility; those granted elsewhere and brought to
Malta by noble families of foreign birth who settled there; those which were
assumed by non-noble, yet prominent families. No doubt some ancestors of the
honourable Chetcuti family belong to one or more of these categories. Gauchi
notes that few Maltese coats of arms, whether noble or not, were ever
officially registered, yet hereditary enjoys great popularity in Malta, with
blazons displayed on rings, tombstones, monuments and vehicles.
Blazon of arms: Azure, on a mountain of six peaks or, a hound rampant
argent, collared qules.
Translation: Azure (blue) denotes truth
and loyalty.
Crest: An eagle displayed sable,
crowned or.
Origin: Malta.
Submitted by Douglas Chetcuti
Download the family tree House of Fontana
Submitted by COUNT CHARLES DE BRANCHEFORTE SAID
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| Chetcuti Ancestry Postings |
View the Chetcuti Ancestry Book Here
- Kav. Alexander Chetcuti - (1900-), membru fil-Partit Kostituzsjonali taht Lord dak iz-ziem Sir Gerald Strickland.
- David Chetcuti - (Maltese-American police officer killed on the line of duty in the San Francisco Bay Area)
- Francesco Chetcuti - (Maltese Patriot executed by Napoleon's army in 1799)
- Guze Chetcuti - (1914-), poeta u rumanzier.
- Dr. Tommasso Chetcuti - (1797-1863)(his work on mental health reforms in the nineteenth century was very forward looking. He is buried in Mosta Parish Church)
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Some of these surnames are not of Maltese Origin but all the surnames are found in Malta, also note that colors
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