First found in Sicilia or Sicily an island in the Mediterranean, a part of Italy. The original inhabitants were Sicels. Research shows that records of the Malta family date back to the noble Maltese family in Sicily, where Remigio Maltese was a castleowner in Lentini and Paolino Maltese obtained the castle of Stafenda in 1230. The Greeks colonized in 735 B.C. Phoenician settlements began in 6th century. Carthaginians arrived 410. Romans arrived, then the Saracens. Then the Norman Conquest said to be Sicily's brightest hour, 1057 A.D and taking 35 years. They made Sicilians the leading Maritimes power in the Mediterranean, and King Roger of Sicily one of the greatest Kings in Europe. From Sicily they invaded Greece. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Elis Malta, who is recorded as settling in America in 1848; Cologero Malta, his wife Costanza and their two children, who were recorded in Louisiana between the years 1901-1910.

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