Founded in June, 2008, this project has been established to study the genetic heritage of Malta (including the Maltese Islands of both Malta and Gozo)which were first settled in 5200 BC by stone age farmers, who's people built some of the oldest free-standing structures and oldest religious structures in the world built during three distinct time periods between 5000 BC and 700 BC--and has been the centre of Mediterranean trade and civilization ever since. 

DNA testing, both yDNA for paternal lines and mtDNA for maternal lines, can provide a picture of the deep and recent ethnic background of Maltese and their descendants. This can include Greek, Italian and Sicilian, Arab, Sephardic Jewish, Norman, Spanish, French, German backgrounds, among others--perhaps even Phoenecian. 

An added bonus, as more join and the database grows, is the possibility of finding common ancestors in the more recent period. This would allow family researchers to connect with distant cousins more quickly and collaborate more effectively in their research in the records.

How to Join the Malta Project

Current Family Tree DNA Customers: Go to your Family Tree DNA personal page and click on the blue icon labelled "Join" (This is in the left hand column, below your name and kit number.) This will bring you to a page with the title "Group Join." Scroll down this page and look for the section titled "Dual Geographic Projects." Next, click on the letter "M" in that section, which sends you to another page. On that page click on "Malta" which sends you, finally, to the page where you can scroll down and click on the "Join" button, near the bottom.

National Geographic's Genographic Project members: Any one who has been tested by the Genographic Project can upload their results for free to Family Tree DNA and then join projects. To upload your results to Family Tree DNA, go to your Genographic Project "Results" page. At the bottom of that page it says "To learn more about your family history..." Click on that and follow the steps and your results will be added to Family Tree DNA's database. Then use the instructions above (for Current Family Tree DNA Customers), to join the Malta Project. (Family Tree DNA customers may also upload their results to the Genographic Project. This will allow you to include your results in the five year international study. There is a charge to upload either your yDNA or mtDNA results to the Genographic Project. Look for the "Genographic Project" tab on your Family Tree DNA personal page to upload your results.)

Just starting out in DNA testing?

Just click on the link labelled "Join this Project" in the upper left hand corner of this page. This will send you to a page where you can fill out the form to join and order a test kit.

**NOTE: This is a Geographic DNA Project (not a surname project). This means the project is only open those who are Maltese or of Maltese descent. If you have a surname that is similar to a Maltese surname, but you are not Maltese or of Maltese descent, you will be removed.**

Links

Maltese Population and DNA

• The Maltese Population, by Dr. Christopher Vidal

Maltese Genealogy

• Your Guide to Finding Maltese Ancestors
• Ċertifikati.gov.mt provides all relative information to obtain an existing Public Registry civil status certificate, including Birth, Marriage and Death certificates.

Maltese Surnames

• Sicilian Connexions [sic] of Some Medieval Maltese Surnames, by Stanley Fiorini