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Cassar (Maltese pronunciation: [kɐs'sɐːr]) is a Maltese surname, common both in Malta and the wider Maltese diaspora. It is considered part of the 14 most numerous surnames in Malta.[1][2]
According to Maltese linguist Mario Cassar, the surname is of Arabic origin, and derives from the Muslim period of Malta. It is proposed that the meaning comes from qaṣr (Arabic: قَصْر, lit. 'palace'or'castle'). [1][3] The Sicilian word Càssaro, which is descendant of qaṣr and has a similar meaning, is a latinisation which closely resembles "Cassar".[2][4]
An alternative Arabic origin is from ḥaṣṣār (Arabic: حَصَّار, lit. 'mat-maker'). The Arabic voiceless pharyngeal fricative ([ħ], or [ḥ]) evolved into a voiceless velar plosive ([k]) through spoken Sicilian Arabic in rural locations, resulting in the modern pronunciation.[2] This 'Sicilianisation' can also be seen in other Maltese surnames of Arabic origin, and likely occurred during the 14th and 15th centuries when Maltese Muslims were forced to latinise their surnames during the Norman Occupation.[5]
There are also various other proposed origins of the surname.:
The most important representatives of the family are the Cassar Desain, marchese de Sain in Malta and the Cassar Torregiani, one of the richest families in 19th century Malta. Other notable people with the name include:
