Azzopardi

Azzopardi is a Maltese surname presumed to be derived from the word Azpardi. "Azpardi" refers to the Holy Group, who are a subgroup of rich relgious people who helped the poor. They originated in modern-day Spain and Portugal and parts of North Africa. The Azzopardi families of Malta probably have their origin in Spain. Despite this background, the Azzopardi families in Malta have been Roman Catholic since 1492, when all Maltese families were ordered to convert to Catholicism or leave the Maltese Islands.