Surname Malia - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Malia: What does the surname Malia mean?
Malia is a surname that has multiple origins and is found in several cultures, thus it has various meanings. It is notably prevalent in Italy, particularly in Sicily. Its meaning, however, isn't clear-cut but it's likely a variant of another Sicilian surname, Amalia. Amalia has German roots, derived from the name Amal that signifies 'work', which may also apply to Malia.
Malia is also an ancestral Hawaiian surname, where Malia is a popular female first name meaning 'calm or gentle waters'. It's popular in African cultures as well, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria. In Swahili, 'Malia' translates as 'queen', although its interpretation may differ across diverse African tribes and cultures.
It's worth mentioning that Malia as a surname is relatively rare, and it's more commonly used as a female first name in several countries. Regardless of its origin, the surname Malia is internationally recognized, largely due to noticeable figures such as Malia Obama, daughter of the former US President Barack Obama.
Order DNA origin analysisMalia: Where does the name Malia come from?
The surname Malia has multiple origins. It is derived from the Hebrew name Mary, meaning "wished-for child." It is commonly found in the form of Maria in Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Over centuries, this surname has evolved in spelling and pronunciation, resulting in variations such as Malia.
In Ireland, the surname Malia has also been anglicized from the Gaelic "Ó Maol Aodha," meaning "descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Aodh." The Malia surname is particularly associated with County Galway and Mayo in western Ireland.
Additionally, Malia is an Arabic surname, which in Arabic translates to "master" or "lord".
Today, the surname is still commonly found in European countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland — with a significant number in the United States as well — likely due to historic migration patterns. With the adoption of surnames varying based on cultural, regional, and linguistic factors, tracking a single origin or area of commonality for a name like Malia can be complex.
Variations of the surname Malia
The surname Malia has different variants and forms, which may have evolved over time or borrowed from different cultures and languages. It is a popular name in various European countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, as well as some Asian countries like India.
Variants and spellings could include: Maliah, Malias, Maliya, and Malija.
It's also possible for the surname Malia to be linked to other surnames that may have the same or similar origins or meanings. These related surnames could include: Malina, Molia, Mallia, Melia, Malya, Malea, Malja, Malie, Malii, and Maliali.
However, please note that surnames can often be traced back to different roots based on regions and countries, hence it's important to research individual family histories when looking for exact origins of a surname.
Also, certain surnames might have multiple variants owing to regional dialects, phonetic spellings, translation among different scripts (like Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), and historical shifts in language and usage. Therefore, while it's probable that these surnames share origins with Malia, it would require further genealogical and linguistic research to establish direct links.
Famous people with the name Malia
- Malia Obama: Former First Daughter of the United States of America; current student of Harvard University.
- Malia Manuel: Professional surfer from Hawaii.
- Malia Jones: Model and television presenter from Canada.
- Malia Zapata: Lead singer and guitarist of indie rock band The Shondes.
- Malia Hosaka: Professional wrestler from the United States.
- Malia Bernal: Beauty pageant titleholder from Guam, Miss Universe Guam 2020.
- Malia Lazu: American philanthropist, social entrepreneur, public speaker, and author.
- Malia Tate-DeFreitas: Professional basketball player from the United States.
- Malia Akutagawa: Musician, singer–songwriter and producer based in Hawaii.
- Malia Grace Myers: Miss Hawaii USA 2021.