Maltese seaman have served on board ships of the Royal Navy since at least the
1700’s. For the British Census years 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1901 the total number
of men in the Royal Navy were 39,918 (327), 17,442 (256), 29,552 (463) and
27,965 (439) respectively. The numbers in brackets show the number of men who
gave Malta as their place of birth.
Whilst the vast majority of men were of Maltese ancestry a small number were
descendants of British servicemen or residents, as their surnames clearly show.
