Re: Galdes ancestors
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In reply to:
Re: Galdes ancestors
Edward Galdes 2/25/02
Dear Edward,
In 1969, Prof. Godfrey Wettinger published a seminal paper entitled "The Militia List of 1419-20" in Melita Historica, Vol. 5 No. 2. It contains the list of Maltese men who were obliged to serve in the local militia called the Dejma.
The surname Galdes (then spelled Caldes) features in this list -- e.g. Lanza Caldes from Casal Arardu (Attard).
The surname Caldes actually goes back further than this date. It features among the members of the Aragonese garrison led by Ruggiero de Loria which occupied Malta in 1283 (See G.F. Abela's Della Descrittione di Malta of 1647.
This confirms that the surname is of Spanish origin.