Calleja
Calleja is a surname found in Spain (as well as countries people of Hispanic descent) and Malta. It is unclear whether the Maltese and Spanish surnames are related or a coincidence, perhaps caused by romanization—a Surname DNA project exists with the one of its stated goals to determine if there is a relationship.[1]
Variations
Variations in spelling include:
- Calleia: Anglicized variation of Maltese surname
- Calleya: Variation found in Malta on documents dating from 13th century to 15th century, may be an Italianized variation.
- Callea: Also found in Italy, this variation also shows up on documents from Malta dating from the 15th century
- Kalleya
- Callejas
Spain
In Spanish, Calleja can be translated to "narrow street" or "alley", but the Latin translation of Calleya is "skillfully". The surname is Castilian, originating in or around Ampuero in Cantabria, Spain.
Malta
Based on historical evidence, the Maltese version of the surname is likely not related to the Spanish version. The first written appearance of the Calleja surname in Malta predates both Aragonese rule (1283–1412) and Aragonese/Castilian rule (1412–1530) of the Maltese island—appearing in 1271 AD with the spelling Calleya and Caleya.
On May 22, 1271, Bertrando de Real, the magister of Malta, was instructed to keep a note of the names and surnames of those who transported the falcons to the royal court from Malta; Martinus Calleya was a witness and Leo Caleya is among those included in the list.[2] Of note, the persons on the 1271 document belonged to the wealthy class and did not include any serfs or peasants, nor any surnames of Arabic derivation.[2] One theory is that the surname Callea or Calleya in Malta is of late Greek or Byzantine formation—Commendatore Francesco Abela, the father of Maltese history, believed the surname to be of Greek origin.[2]
In the fifteenth century there was a village in Malta called Calleja, situated near Mosta—it seems linguistically and geographically connected with il-Qlejgħa, in the same geographic area.[3] Wied il-Qlejgħa (more popularly known as Chadwick Lakes) means the Valley of the Small Castle.
Another place name in Malta is Il-Qlejgħa, on the Northwest coast. The nearest town to Il-Qlejgħa is Birkirkara, 11.4 km east, which has the highest concentration of people with the surname Calleja.
Distribution of Calleja surname in Malta based on militia rolls:
- 1419 militia roll: total 25 – Naxaru 2, Calleja /Musta 4, Atardu 1, Bircalcara 2, Capurat 3, Pasqualinu 1, Johanni /Buzubudi 2, Zurico 2, Rabat 6, Civitas 2
- 1480s militia roll: calleye (27), callea (1), total 28 – Naxar 2, Musta 4, Bercarcara 2, Curmi 7, Luca /Gudia 1, Zurric 2, Sigeui 4, Zebug 3, Rabat 2, Civitas 1
Calleja/Calleia/Calleya/Callea DNA Surname Project
There are three objectives for this Surname DNA project
- Identify others who are related
- Prove or disprove connection between Calleja Y-lines from Malta and those from Spain and other Hispanic countries.
- Determine connection between Maltese and Italians with Calleia, Calleya, Callea, and Calleja surnames
Calleja may refer to
People
- Peter Calleja (born 1993), Future Unknown
- Andrés de la Calleja (1705-1785), Spanish painter
- Anthony Calleja (born 1955), Maltese Artist and painter
- Benjamín Callejas (born 1990), Chilean handball player
- Carmen Calleja (1949-2012), Spanish politician
- Christian Callejas (born 1978), Uruguayan footballer
- Félix María Calleja del Rey, 1st Count of Calderón, Spanish 19th century military officer
- Fernando Callejas Barona (born 1948), Ecuadoran politician
- Gabi Calleja, Maltese gay rights activist
- Isacio Calleja (born 1936), Spanish footballer
- Javier Calleja (born 1978), Spanish football coach and former player
- José Díez Calleja (born 1962), Spanish footballer
- Joseph Calleia (1897-1975), Maltese-born American singer, composer, screenwriter and actor
- Joseph Calleja (born 1978), Maltese opera singer
- Joseph Calleja (rock) (1974-2000), better known as Joe C., American rapper
- Juan Calleja (born 1969), Filipino Photographer/Artist, Founder of the Philippine Outdoor Photographers
- Juan Nicolás Callejas Arroyo (born 1944), Mexican politician
- Kurt Calleja (born 1989), Maltese singer
- Rafael Calleja (1870-1938), Spanish composer
- Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero (born 1943), former President of Honduras
- Saturnino Calleja (1853-1915), Spanish writer and publisher
- Sebastián Calleja (born 1979), Argentine footballer
- Victor Callejas (born 1960), Puerto Rican boxer
Other
- Club Callejas, Bolivian football club
- Islands of Calleja, a part of the human brain
References
- ↑ "Family Tree DNA - Calleja/Calleia/Calleya/Callea DNA Surname Project". familytreedna.com.
- 1 2 3 Melita Historica New Series. 12(1999)4(333-344), p.333, The Origin of the ‘Maltese’ Surnames, Prof. Godfrey Wettinger
- ↑ Journal of Maltese Studies. 5(1968)(25-48) [p.25] The Distribution of Surnames in Malta in 1419 and the 1480s G. Wettinger