House of Caruana - Caruana Coat of Arms

The House of Caruana

See: My Ancestors - House of Calleja - House of Caruana - House of Mercieca - Pacifico Calleja - Antonia Galea Mercieca - HMS Glorious - SS Ashbury - Victor B. Caruana - Pietru Caxaro - Theophilactus I - Arnulf of Metz - Words of My Mother and Father - Family Photo Gallery

Welcome to the Caruana Family Tree — a preserved record of our family’s history, heritage, and ancestral journey across generations.

This family archive honors the enduring legacy of my maternal grandparents, Carmelo Caruana and Vittoria Mercieca Caruana, who were married on July 31, 1912, at the Parish Church of St. Cajetan (San Gejtanu) in Ħamrun, Malta.

Rooted in the vibrant communities of Ħamrun and Qormi, Malta, their lives reflected the traditions, values, and resilience of the Maltese people. My grandmother Vittoria Mercieca Caruana carried with her the rich heritage of the Mercieca family, while my grandfather Carmelo Caruana, a skilled tinsmith from Qormi, represented the hardworking craftsmanship that defined so many Maltese families of his generation.

Together, they raised eight children in Qormi:
John (Ganni), Carmenu, Gregory (Gori), Theresa (my mother), Rosario (Zaru), Antoninu (Tony), Censinu (Vince), and Salvatore (Sam).

Each became an important branch of the Caruana family story, contributing to the strength, traditions, and continuity of future generations.

As we explore the history of our family, we honor the resilience, sacrifice, love, and unity that shaped the Caruana lineage and continue to connect us today. May their memory and legacy inspire future generations of the Caruana, Mercieca, Gatt, and Calleja families.

Caruana Coat of Arms

The surname Caruana is historically associated with Malta, Sicily, and parts of southern Italy, particularly regions influenced by Mediterranean trade and migration.

The name is believed to have possible Sicilian and Siculo-Arabic origins. Some historians connect it to the Arabic word kârwân, meaning “caravan,” while others associate it with terms referring to groups of workers or travelers throughout the Mediterranean world.

Caruana Family Portrait

This treasured family portrait captures three generations of the Caruana family in Malta around 1929.

Front Row

• Antoninu (Tony) Caruana
• Rosario (Zaru) Caruana

Middle Row

• Censinu (Vince) Caruana seated on the lap of Vittoria Mercieca Caruana
• Theresa Caruana (my mother)
• Carmelo Caruana holding Salvatore (Sam) Caruana

Back Row

• Carmenu Caruana
• John (Ganni) Caruana
• Gregory (Gori) Caruana

This photograph remains one of the family’s most cherished historical records, preserving the faces and memories of a generation whose lives helped shape our family story.

Theresa Caruana's Family Tree

The Caruana Family Tree is a journey through generations of ancestral discovery, historical research, and preserved family heritage.

On my mother Theresa Caruana Calleja’s paternal side, the Caruana lineage traces back through Malta and Tripoli, Libya, where her grandfather Vincenzo Caruana was born.

On my mother’s paternal grandmother Giovanna Gatt’s line, the ancestry extends through numerous Maltese generations connected to families including Gatt, Teuma, Pace, Camilleri, and Micallef.

Our deepest ancestral roots emerge through my mother Theresa Caruana Calleja’s maternal line, specifically through her mother Vittoria Mercieca’s paternal grandmother Nicolina Mercieca. Through ongoing genealogical and historical research, this lineage now spans approximately 59 generations and more than 1,400 years of recorded ancestry.

This remarkable ancestral line traces back through:

• Maltese and Mediterranean noble families
• The royal houses of Aragon and Sicily
• The Carolingian dynasty of Charlemagne
• Early Frankish nobility
• Late Roman aristocratic families

Among the most notable ancestors identified within this lineage are:

• Charlemagne
• Charles Martel
• Arnulf of Metz (born circa 582 A.D.)
• Frederick I Barbarossa
• Frederick II of Sicily
• Alberic di Spoleto II
• Marozia de Tusculum Senatrix
• Pope John XII (Ottaviano dei Conti di Tuscolo)

This family history represents far more than a collection of names and dates. It is a living connection to centuries of migration, faith, survival, leadership, and family continuity stretching from modern Malta into the foundations of medieval and early European history.

Through this family tree, we preserve not only our ancestry, but also the stories, traditions, and legacy entrusted to future generations.

Saint George Church

The parish of St George is one of the 12 parishes mentioned in the rollo of Bishop Senatore de Mello in 1436. The church structure was built three times. The original parish church was demolished and a larger one was built on the same site in the mid-15th century. The church was then reconstructed in a larger form around 1585. The dome was added in 1684 on designs by Lorenzo Gafà. The church was consecrated on May 6, 1731. The church was elevated to the status of Collegiate church on 30 June, 2019. Saint George is where my mother and her sibling were Baptized.