Azzopardi
Encyclopedia
Azzopardi is a Maltese
surname
presumed to be derived from the word Safardi. "Sephardi" refers to the Sephardic Jews, who are a subgroup of Jews that originated in modern-day Spain and Portugal and parts of North Africa. The Azzopardi families of Malta probably have their origin in Spain
. Despite the Sephardic background, the Azzopardi families in Malta have been Roman Catholic since 1492, when all Maltese Jewish families were ordered to convert to Catholicism or leave the Maltese Islands.
A similar surname is Azopardo, which is also the names of the Azopardo River
(Spanish: Río Azopardo), a river in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
, Chile
at the southern tip of South America
.
In "The Origin of the ‘Maltese’ Surnames", Godfrey Wettinger questions the assumed Safardi derivation of the surname. He suggests there may be an alternative derivation from two twelfth century surnames Accio and Pardo and cites a witness to a notarial deed signed in Genoa on 4 August 1201 called Ogerius Açopardus.
The reference from the publication is repeated verbatim here in case of loss of the original document: Ref. [27] For Accio see: Codice diplomatico della Repubblica di Genova, “Fonti per la Storia d’Italia”, Roma 1942, III, doc. 44, p. 120: Azo Rovedus, Azo Borel, giugno 1197; and Azo de Pangiano, Azo, Salvaticus, Azo Rovedus, and Azo de Avolasca in ibid., doc. 50, pp.131-132, 27 Agosto 1198. Ogerius Açopardus figures among witnesses to a notarial deed in Genoa on 4 August 1201: Giovanni de Guiberto (1200-1211), a cura di M.W. Hall-Cole et al., “Notai liguri del secolo XII, vol. V,” Genoa, 1940, doc. 350 in vol. I, 173.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
presumed to be derived from the word Safardi. "Sephardi" refers to the Sephardic Jews, who are a subgroup of Jews that originated in modern-day Spain and Portugal and parts of North Africa. The Azzopardi families of Malta probably have their origin in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Despite the Sephardic background, the Azzopardi families in Malta have been Roman Catholic since 1492, when all Maltese Jewish families were ordered to convert to Catholicism or leave the Maltese Islands.
A similar surname is Azopardo, which is also the names of the Azopardo River
Azopardo River
The Azopardo River , is a river in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Chile at the southern tip of South America. It flows in a westerly direction and drains the waters of Fagnano Lake into Almirantazgo Fjord....
(Spanish: Río Azopardo), a river in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is an island near the southern tip of South America from which it is separated by the Strait of Magellan...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
at the southern tip of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
In "The Origin of the ‘Maltese’ Surnames", Godfrey Wettinger questions the assumed Safardi derivation of the surname. He suggests there may be an alternative derivation from two twelfth century surnames Accio and Pardo and cites a witness to a notarial deed signed in Genoa on 4 August 1201 called Ogerius Açopardus.
The reference from the publication is repeated verbatim here in case of loss of the original document: Ref. [27] For Accio see: Codice diplomatico della Repubblica di Genova, “Fonti per la Storia d’Italia”, Roma 1942, III, doc. 44, p. 120: Azo Rovedus, Azo Borel, giugno 1197; and Azo de Pangiano, Azo, Salvaticus, Azo Rovedus, and Azo de Avolasca in ibid., doc. 50, pp.131-132, 27 Agosto 1198. Ogerius Açopardus figures among witnesses to a notarial deed in Genoa on 4 August 1201: Giovanni de Guiberto (1200-1211), a cura di M.W. Hall-Cole et al., “Notai liguri del secolo XII, vol. V,” Genoa, 1940, doc. 350 in vol. I, 173.
People
- Colin AzzopardiColin AzzopardiCollin Azzopardi is an Australian football player who currently plays and is the captain for Sunshine George Cross FC. He has previously played for Carlton SC in the now defunct NSL.-References:...
Australian football player - Edward AzzopardiEdward AzzopardiEdward Azzopardi is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Second Division side Zejtun Corinthians, where he plays as a defender.-External links:* *...
, Maltese footballer - Francesco Azzopardi, (1748–1809) Maltese composer
- Franck AzzopardiFranck AzzopardiFranck Azzopardi is a former professional footballer. He was a defensive midfielder and played his entire career for Chamois Niortais. Since retiring from playing, he has been a coach at Niort.-External links:...
French footballer - Ġużè Muscat AzzopardiGuzè Muscat AzzopardiĠużè Muscat Azzopardi was born in Ħal Qormi, on September 1, 1853. He studied in the Mdina Seminary, and in the University of Malta, where he graduated as a lawyer in 1875. Muscat Azzopardi died on August 4, 1927, Valletta...
, (1853–1927) Maltese novelist - Ian AzzopardiIan AzzopardiIan Azzopardi is a Maltese footballer who currently plays for Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.-Floriana:...
, Maltese footballer - Kyra AzzopardiKyra AzzopardiKyra Azzopardi , is a Canadian actress known best for her role as Catherine on The Outer Limits.-Early life:Azzopardi was born in Toronto, Canada, to a Maltese family...
, Canadian actress - Mario AzzopardiMario AzzopardiMario Philip Azzopardi , is a television and film director and writer.He has worked on such shows as The Outer Limits, Stargate SG-1 , and Stargate Atlantis...
, Maltese television and film director - Nicole AzzopardiNicole AzzopardiNicole Azzopardi is a Maltese singer-songwriter and participant in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010.-Career:In 2006 she represented Malta at the Italian song contest Zecchino d'Oro, with the song La dottoressa Lulù .On September 4, 2010, Azzopardi won the Maltese national selection for the...
, Maltese singer-songwriter - Peppi AzzopardiPeppi AzzopardiJoseph "Peppi" Azzopardi, is a Maltese personality, most popular for hosting the popular discussion show Xarabank. He also contributed to L-Istrina, a yearly program which aims at gathering money for charity.-External links:* * * aaa...
, Maltese television presenter - Stephen AzzopardiStephen AzzopardiStephen Azzopardi is a Maltese football coach and former player. He is married and has two children, Katya and Sean.During his career, Azzopardi has worked for the teams Balzan Youths, Birkirkara...
, Maltese footballer - Trezza AzzopardiTrezza AzzopardiTrezza Azzopardi is a British writer.She was born in Cardiff to a Maltese father and a Welsh mother. She studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and currently works as a lecturer there...
, Welsh writer - Leif Azzopardi, Computer Scientist