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{{Infobox Ethnic group {{Short description|Ethnic group}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2013}}
|group = Gibraltarians<br /><small>''Llanitos''</small>
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
|image = ]]<br>]]]
{{Infobox ethnic group
|caption = <small>''Some notable Gibraltarians:''<br />]{{•}} ]<br />]{{•}} ]{{•}} ]</small>
| group = Gibraltarians
|population = '''Over 40,000'''
| native_name = ''gibraltareños'', ''llanitos'' <small>(])</small>
|regions =
| population = 29,573 (2022 est.)<ref name=cia>{{Cite web |title=Gibraltar |publisher=CIA |website=The World Factbook |date=11 January 2023 |url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gibraltar/}}</ref>
<table align="center" style="background:transparent; text-align:left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
| regions = 2012 estimates, current as of 2023
<tr><td>{{GIB}} 28,875+<ref></ref>
(Nationality of Gibraltar residents)
<tr><td>{{UK}} 11,830+<ref name=OECD>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls|title=Country-of-birth database|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-06-21}}</ref>
| region1 = {{flagcountry|Gibraltar}}
<tr><td>{{flagicon|Andalusia}} ]
| pop1 = 79%<ref name=cia/>
</table>
| region2 = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|languages = ]{{·}} ]<br/>]&nbsp;{{smaller|(vernacular)}}
| pop2 = 13.2%<ref name=cia/>
|religions = ] {{smaller|(mostly ] and ])}}{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]
| region3 = {{flagcountry|Spain}}
|related = ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]
| pop3 = 2.1%<ref name=cia/>
| region4 = {{flagcountry|Morocco}}
| pop4 = 1.6%<ref name=cia/>
| region5 = Other {{flagcountry|European Union}}
| pop5 = 2.4%<ref name=cia/>
| region6 = Other
| pop6 = 1.6%<ref name=cia/>
| languages = ] (]), ] (]), ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/government-publishes-bill-to-recognise-british-sign-language-as-a-language-of-gibraltar-2742022-7880 |title=Government Publishes Bill to recognise British Sign Language as a language of Gibraltar - 274/2022 |date=2022-04-19 |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123215047/https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/government-publishes-bill-to-recognise-british-sign-language-as-a-language-of-gibraltar-2742022-7880 |archive-date=2022-11-23 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| religions = Majority: ]

Minority:
], ], ], ], ].
| related = ], ], ], ] (], ]ns, and ]), ], ], ], ]
}} }}
] during the ] of British Gibraltar, ] 2004.]]


] during the ] of British Gibraltar, 4 August 2004.]]
The '''Gibraltarians''' (colloquially ''']'''), are a ]an ]<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gold|first=Peter|date=July 2001|title=Is Gibraltar a Nation?|journal=International Journal of Iberian Studies|volume=14|issue=2|issn=1364-971X|language=English|url=http://www.atypon-link.com/INT/doi/abs/10.1386/ijis.14.2.68|accessdate=20 December 2009}}</ref><ref></ref> and ] native to ], a ] located near the southernmost tip of the ] at the entrance to the ].

'''Gibraltarians''' (]: ''gibraltareños'', colloquially: '']'') are an ethnic group native to ], a ] located near the southernmost tip of the ] at the entrance to the ].


== Origins == == Origins ==
Some Gibraltarians are an ] of the many immigrants who came to the ] over 300 years. Following its ] by an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704, all but 70<ref>{{cite book| first=Peter| last=Gold| title=Gibraltar: British or Spanish?| publisher=Routledge| year=2005| page=6}}</ref> of the existing inhabitants of Gibraltar elected to leave<ref>{{cite book| first= Maurice |last= Harvey |year= 1996| title= Gibraltar: A History| publisher= Spellmount Limited| page= 68 |isbn= 1-86227-103-8}}</ref> with many settling nearby. Since then, immigrants from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, ], ], ], ], and ] have settled at Gibraltar, as have ] from ].<ref name="Gold2005">{{cite book| first= Peter |last= Gold|title=Gibraltar: British Or Spanish?| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b6SgDQvP3zMC|year=2005|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-34795-2|page=1 }}</ref>
Gibraltarians are a ] of the many ]an immigrants who came to the ] over three hundred years. They are the descendants of economic migrants that came to Gibraltar after the majority of the ]. The few ]s who remained in Gibraltar in August 1704 left in 1727 when Gibraltar was subjected to its ].


] (who arrived to work for the garrison and later went on to form the basis of Gibraltar's civilian police force) and ] (who arrived in the fleet with ], possibly some two hundred in all), became the core of Gibraltar's first civilian population under a ], soon replaced by the ]. Jews from ] in Morocco, who had previously been suppliers to the English territory of ], started supplying fresh produce to Gibraltar from 1704. ] and ] (who arrived in the fleet with ]) became the core of Gibraltar's first civilian population under Habsburg Gibraltar. ] from ] in ], who had previously been suppliers to ], began supplying fresh produce to Gibraltar in 1704.


Most Gibraltarian surnames are of Mediterranean or British extraction. The exact breakdown (including non-Gibraltarian British residents) of ] according to the electoral register according to the 1995 Census was as follows:
In 1728 the settlement of ] was such that by 1755 they formed 50% of the 1300 civilian population together with the Genoese. In 1888 the construction of the new harbour at Gibraltar started in order to provide an additional coaling station on the British routes to the East. This resulted in the importation of ] labour both to assist in its construction, and to replace striking Genoese labour in the old coaling lighter-based industry. Maltese, and ] formed the majority of this new population. Other groups include Minorcans (who left the island<ref>''Sloss, Janet'',Exit Britannia; Britain’s Last Conquest of Menorca 1798 - 1802, Bonaventura Press, 2002</ref><ref>''Gregory, Desmond, ''Minorca, the illusory prize : a history of the British occupations of Minorca between 1708 and 1802, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, London, 1990</ref> when ] was returned to ] under the ] in 1802, after 4 years of British occupation), ]ns, ] and other ], ], ], and the ].


{| class="wikitable"
] from Spain and ] with Spaniards from the ] was a constant feature of ] until General ] closed the border with Gibraltar, cutting off many Gibraltarians from their relatives on the Spanish side of the frontier. The Spanish socialist government reopened the land frontier, but other restrictions remain in place.
! Rank !! Origin !! Proportion (%) <br>{{small|family names}}<ref name="empire">{{cite book | title=Gibraltar, identity and empire | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ip0C6odET4C | author=Edward G. Archer | publisher=Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-415-34796-9 | page=36 | chapter=Ethnic factors}}</ref>
|-
| 1 || British || 27
|-
| 2 || Spanish (excluding Menorcan) || 24
|-
| 3 || Italian || 19
|-
| 4 || Portuguese || 11
|-
| 5 || Maltese || 8
|-
| 6 || Jewish || 3
|-
| 7 || Menorcan || 2
|-
| 8 || Other || 4
|-
| 9 || Unassigned || 2
|}

] by 1755 together with the ] formed 50% of the civilian population (then 1,300). In 1888 construction of the new harbour at Gibraltar began to provide an additional coaling station on the British routes to the East. This resulted in the importation of ] labour both to assist in its construction, and to replace striking Genoese labour in the old coaling lighter-based industry. Maltese and ] formed the majority of this new population.

Other groups include ]ns (due to the links between both ] during the 18th century; immigration began in that century and continued even after Menorca was returned to Spain in 1802 by the ]),<ref>{{cite book |first=William |last=Jackson |year=1990 |title=The Rock of the Gibraltarians. A History of Gibraltar |publisher=Gibraltar Books | edition = second |location=Grendon, Northamptonshire, UK |isbn=0-948466-14-6 | page=225|quote=The open frontier helped to increase the Spanish share, and naval links with Menorca produced the small Menorcan contingent.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ip0C6odET4C | title=Gibraltar, identity and empire | author=Edward G. Archer | publisher=Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-415-34796-9 | pages=42–43}}</ref> ]ns, ] and other ], ], and ].

Immigration from Spain (including refugees from the Spanish Civil War) and intermarriage with Spaniards from the ] was a constant feature of ] until General ] closed the border with Gibraltar, cutting off many Gibraltarians from their relatives on the Spanish side of the border. The Spanish government reopened the land border, but other restrictions remain in place.

For the period of ] the border was closed, although Spain was nominally neutral, as Franco's regime was effectively allied with ].

===Genoese/Italian surnames===

Research by Fiorenzo Toso in 2000 about the names of ] found that most of the emigration from the Italian region ] was from the areas of ] and ], and some surnames such as Caruana, often believed to be ], originate from ] who emigrated to Malta during the Italian ]).<ref></ref>

The following are the most common Genoese surnames in Gibraltar, according to Toso's research. The number of Gibraltarian residents who have these surnames, according to Gibraltar's Yellow Pages are provided in parentheses.
* Parody (45), Baglietto (45), Danino (33), Olivero (50), Robba (32), Montegriffo (34), Chipolina (25),<ref></ref> Ferrary (35), Ramagge (24), Picardo (6), Isola (24), Canepa (12), Cavilla (14) and Bossano (15).<ref name="gibyellow.gi">{{cite web| url= http://gibyellow.gi/result?query=Bossano&type=residential | website= gibyellow.gi| title= Gibraltar Telephone Directory}}</ref>

===Maltese surnames===
By 1912, the total number of Maltese living in Gibraltar was not above 700. Many worked in the ] and others operated businesses which were usually ancillary to the dockyard. However, the ] was not capable of absorbing a large number of immigrants from Malta; the number of Maltese was already in decline as they returned to the ]. Eventually those who stayed in Gibraltar became very much involved in the economic and social life of the colony, most of them also being staunch supporters of links with the UK.

Below is a list of the most common Maltese surnames in Gibraltar along with the current number of Gibraltarians who possess them.
* Azzopardi (22), Barbara (12), Borg (46), Bugeja (11), Buhagiar (14), Buttigieg (18), Zammit (37).<ref name="gibyellow.gi"/>


== Nationality == == Nationality ==
{{seealso|History of nationality in Gibraltar|British Overseas Territories citizen}} {{See also|History of nationality in Gibraltar|British Overseas Territories citizen}}
Gibraltarians are ], albeit with a distinct identity of their own.


Gibraltarians are ]s, albeit with a distinct identity of their own. Gibraltar is sometimes referred by the younger generation as "Gib" (/dʒɨb/). They are colloquially referred to as Llanitos (or Yanitos),<ref>{{cite book | title=Language Change and Variation in Gibraltar | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VKW6uqxsj4YC | quote=''Yanito'' (or ''Llanito'') is the name popularly given to the native of Gibraltar as well as the local/vernacular they speak | chapter=English, Spanish... and Yanito | page=1 | first=David | last=Levey | publisher=John Benjamins Publishing | year=2008 | isbn=978-9027218629}}</ref> both locally and in Spain.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=llanito, ta|publisher=] |dictionary= Diccionario de la lengua española |url = http://dle.rae.es/?id=NTufCy1 |edition = 23rd |location = Madrid|year = 2014 |language = es}}</ref> There are also other nicknames in English for Gibraltar, relating to the Rock of Gibraltar.<ref name="Room2006">{{cite book|author=Adrian Room|title=Nicknames of Places: Origins and Meanings of the Alternate and Secondary Names, Sobriquets, Titles, Epithets and Slogans for 4600 Places Worldwide|url=https://archive.org/details/nicknamesofplace0000room|url-access=registration|date=1 January 2006|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-2497-9|page=}}</ref>
''noun:'' ](s)
''adjective:'' Gibraltar


===2012 census===
Statistics for the usually-Resident Population and Persons Present in Gibraltar.<ref name="gibraltar.gov.gi">{{cite web|url=https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/HMGoG_Documents/Full%20Census%20Report%202012%20FINAL.pdf|title=Census of Gibraltar|date=2012|website=Gibraltar.gov.gi|access-date=2017-08-03}}</ref> A usual resident of Gibraltar, for census purposes, is anyone who, on 12 November 2012:
(a) was in Gibraltar and had stayed or intended to stay in Gibraltar for a period of 12 months or more, or;
(b) has a permanent Gibraltar address but is outside Gibraltar and intends to be outside Gibraltar for less than 12 months.
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
! Rank !! Nationality !! Proportion (%) of the population<ref name=CEN></ref>
|- |-
! Rank !! Nationality !! Percent of total population<ref name="gibraltar.gov.gi"/>!! Population
| 1 || Gibraltarian || 83.22%
|- |-
| 2 || Other British || 9.56% | 1 || Gibraltarian ||79.0%||25,444
|- |-
| 2 || UK and Other ]||13.2%||4,249
| 3 || Moroccan || 3.50%
|- |-
| 4 || Spanish || 1.19% | 3 || ]||2.1%||675
|- |-
| 5 || Other || 1.54% | 4 || Moroccan ||1.6%||522
|- |-
| 6 || Other EU || 1.00% | 5 || Other EU||2.4%||785
|-
| 6 || Other* ||1.6%||519
|} |}
:<small>(*) Includes all nationalities different from Gibraltarian, UK and other British and Moroccan.</small>

The 2012 census showed a total Usually-Resident population of 32,194. There was a small decrease in the proportion of Gibraltarians (79.0%), an increase in the ratio of "Other British" (13.2%) and a small increase in the ratio of "Other" (6.2%).<ref name="gibraltar.gov.gi"/>


==Culture== ==Culture==
] ]

=== Religion === === Religion ===

Gibraltarians' main religion is ], with the majority of Gibraltarians belonging to the ]. Other Christian denominations include the ], the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.methodist.org.gi/ |title=Gibraltar Methodist Church |accessdate=2007-10-30 |publisher=The Methodist Church}}</ref> ], various ] and independent churches mostly influenced by the ] and ]s, as well as a ] congregation. There is also a ward of ], and ]. There are also a number of ] Indians, a ] ] population, members of the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibnet.com/bahai/ |title=The Bahá'í Community in Gibraltar |accessdate=2007-10-30 |publisher=Gibnet}}</ref> and a long-established ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibraltar.gov.uk/hol/people.asp |title=People |accessdate=2007-11-06 |date=2005 |publisher=Official Government of Gibraltar London website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph|last=Jacobs|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=220&letter=G |title=Gibraltar |accessdate=2007-11-06 |publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com}}</ref>
The main religion of Gibraltar is Christianity with the majority of Gibraltarians belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Other Christian denominations include the ], the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.methodist.org.gi/ |title=Gibraltar Methodist Church |access-date=30 October 2007 |publisher=The Methodist Church |archive-date=18 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118041323/http://methodist.org.gi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ], various ] and independent churches mostly influenced by the ] and ]s, as well as a ] congregation. There is also a ward of ], and ]. There are a number of ] Indians, a Moroccan ] population, members of the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bahai.org/worldwide-community/national-communities/ |title=National Baha'i Communities &#124; The Baháʼí Faith |publisher=Bahai.org |access-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> and a long-established ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibraltar.gov.uk/hol/people.asp |title=People |access-date=6 November 2007 |year=2005 |publisher=Official Government of Gibraltar London website |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013194341/http://gibraltar.gov.uk/hol/people.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 13 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph|last=Jacobs|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=220&letter=G |title=Gibraltar |access-date=6 November 2007 |publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank !! Religion !! Proportion (%) of Gibraltarians<ref name=CEN/>
! Rank !! Religion !! Proportion (%) of Gibraltarians<ref name=CEN>{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|- |-
| 1 || Roman Catholic || 78.09% | 1 || Roman Catholic || 78.09%
Line 76: Line 140:


=== Languages === === Languages ===
{{seealso|Languages of Gibraltar}} {{See also|Languages of Gibraltar}}
] (used in schools and for official purposes) and ] are the main languages of Gibraltar. Most Gibraltarians converse in '']'', an ] based ]. It consists of an eclectic mix of Andalusian Spanish and ] as well as languages such as ], ], ] of the ] variety and ]. Among more educated Gibraltarians, it also typically involves ] to English. ] is spoken by the Moroccan community, just like ] and ] are spoken by the Indian community of Gibraltar. ] is still spoken by some families of Maltese descent.


English (used in schools and for official purposes) and Spanish are the main languages of Gibraltar. Although English is the official language, Gibraltarians are typically bilingual, speaking Spanish as fluently as English.<ref>{{cite web|title=Language of Gibraltar|date=16 April 2014|url=http://www.andalucia.com/gibraltar/languages.htm}}</ref> Most Gibraltarians converse in '']'', Gibraltar's ]. It is an old dialect of ] with modern ] influence, as well as influences from ] Ligurian, ], Portuguese and ]. Gibraltarians may also ] to English. ] is spoken by the significant ]. ] is also spoken by the Moroccan community, similar to ] and ] being spoken by the Indian community of Gibraltar. ] is still spoken by some families of Maltese descent.
== References ==

{{reflist}}
Gibraltarians have a light, but unique, accent when speaking English; the accent is primarily influenced by Andalusian Spanish and southern British English. Many educated Gibraltarians are able to converse in ].

== Notable Gibraltarians ==
{{main|List of Gibraltarians}}
<gallery mode="packed" heights="110" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%">
File:Freedom of the City - Kaiane Aldorino - September 2011 (cropped).jpg|]
File:Gustavo Bacarisas y Podesta.jpg|]
File:Joebossano.jpg|]
File:Adolfo Canepa 2013.jpg|]
File:Peter Caruana portrait.jpg|]
File:Anthony Dudley.jpg|]
File:Clive Finlayson portrait.jpg|]
File:Gibraltar - 300 años de Utrecht 13.7.2013 33 (9292015500) (2)-2.jpg|]
File:Joseph Garcia portrait.jpg|]
File:Joshua Hassan.jpg|]
File:Alfred Holmes.jpg|]
File:Paul Isola.JPG|]
File:Sol levy mayor.jpg|]
File:Anthony Lima portrait.jpg|]
File:Maroua Kharbouch during the tercentenary commemoration of the Treaty of Utrecht.jpg|]
File:Steven Linares at the 2013 Gibraltar Music Festival.jpg|]
File:Robert Peliza.jpg|]
File:Miss Gibraltar 07 Danielle Perez.jpg|]
File:Fabian Picardo in London (portrait).jpg|]
File:Olga zammitt.jpg|]
File:Eva Carneiro1 (cropped).jpg|]
</gallery>


== See also == == See also ==
{{Commons cat|People of Gibraltar}} {{Commons category|People of Gibraltar}}
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Template group
|list =
{{Gibraltar topics}} {{Gibraltar topics}}
{{British peoples}} {{British peoples}}
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibraltarians}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gibraltarians}}
] ]
] ]
]

]

Latest revision as of 10:26, 4 October 2024

Ethnic group

Ethnic group
Gibraltarians
gibraltareños, llanitos (Spanish)
Total population
29,573 (2022 est.)
Regions with significant populations
2012 estimates, current as of 2023 (Nationality of Gibraltar residents)
 Gibraltar79%
 United Kingdom13.2%
 Spain2.1%
 Morocco1.6%
Other  European Union2.4%
Other1.6%
Languages
English (Gibraltarian English), Spanish (Llanito), British Sign
Religion
Majority: Roman Catholic

Minority:

Anglicanism, Protestant, Sunni Islam, Hindu, Irreligion.
Related ethnic groups
Spanish, Andalusians, Catalans, Italians (Genoese, Ligurians, and Sicilians), Maltese, Portuguese, Jews, Britons
Gibraltarians encircle The Rock during the tercentenary of British Gibraltar, 4 August 2004.

Gibraltarians (Spanish: gibraltareños, colloquially: llanitos) are an ethnic group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

Origins

Some Gibraltarians are an ethnic and cultural mixture of the many immigrants who came to the Rock of Gibraltar over 300 years. Following its capture by an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704, all but 70 of the existing inhabitants of Gibraltar elected to leave with many settling nearby. Since then, immigrants from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Morocco, Menorca, and India have settled at Gibraltar, as have Sephardic Jews from North Africa.

Genoese and Catalans (who arrived in the fleet with Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt) became the core of Gibraltar's first civilian population under Habsburg Gibraltar. Sephardi Jews from Tetouan in Morocco, who had previously been suppliers to English Tangier, began supplying fresh produce to Gibraltar in 1704.

Most Gibraltarian surnames are of Mediterranean or British extraction. The exact breakdown (including non-Gibraltarian British residents) of family names according to the electoral register according to the 1995 Census was as follows:

Rank Origin Proportion (%)
family names
1 British 27
2 Spanish (excluding Menorcan) 24
3 Italian 19
4 Portuguese 11
5 Maltese 8
6 Jewish 3
7 Menorcan 2
8 Other 4
9 Unassigned 2

Jews in Gibraltar by 1755 together with the Genoese in Gibraltar formed 50% of the civilian population (then 1,300). In 1888 construction of the new harbour at Gibraltar began to provide an additional coaling station on the British routes to the East. This resulted in the importation of Maltese labour both to assist in its construction, and to replace striking Genoese labour in the old coaling lighter-based industry. Maltese and Portuguese people formed the majority of this new population.

Other groups include Menorcans (due to the links between both British possessions during the 18th century; immigration began in that century and continued even after Menorca was returned to Spain in 1802 by the Treaty of Amiens), Sardinians, Sicilians and other Italians, French, and British people.

Immigration from Spain (including refugees from the Spanish Civil War) and intermarriage with Spaniards from the surrounding Spanish towns was a constant feature of Gibraltar's history until General Francisco Franco closed the border with Gibraltar, cutting off many Gibraltarians from their relatives on the Spanish side of the border. The Spanish government reopened the land border, but other restrictions remain in place.

For the period of World War II the border was closed, although Spain was nominally neutral, as Franco's regime was effectively allied with Nazi Germany.

Genoese/Italian surnames

Research by Fiorenzo Toso in 2000 about the names of Gibraltarian families of Genoese origins found that most of the emigration from the Italian region Liguria was from the areas of Genoa and Savona, and some surnames such as Caruana, often believed to be Maltese, originate from Sicilians who emigrated to Malta during the Italian Renaissance).

The following are the most common Genoese surnames in Gibraltar, according to Toso's research. The number of Gibraltarian residents who have these surnames, according to Gibraltar's Yellow Pages are provided in parentheses.

  • Parody (45), Baglietto (45), Danino (33), Olivero (50), Robba (32), Montegriffo (34), Chipolina (25), Ferrary (35), Ramagge (24), Picardo (6), Isola (24), Canepa (12), Cavilla (14) and Bossano (15).

Maltese surnames

By 1912, the total number of Maltese living in Gibraltar was not above 700. Many worked in the dockyard and others operated businesses which were usually ancillary to the dockyard. However, the economy of Gibraltar was not capable of absorbing a large number of immigrants from Malta; the number of Maltese was already in decline as they returned to the Maltese Islands. Eventually those who stayed in Gibraltar became very much involved in the economic and social life of the colony, most of them also being staunch supporters of links with the UK.

Below is a list of the most common Maltese surnames in Gibraltar along with the current number of Gibraltarians who possess them.

  • Azzopardi (22), Barbara (12), Borg (46), Bugeja (11), Buhagiar (14), Buttigieg (18), Zammit (37).

Nationality

See also: History of nationality in Gibraltar and British Overseas Territories citizen

Gibraltarians are British citizens, albeit with a distinct identity of their own. Gibraltar is sometimes referred by the younger generation as "Gib" (/dʒɨb/). They are colloquially referred to as Llanitos (or Yanitos), both locally and in Spain. There are also other nicknames in English for Gibraltar, relating to the Rock of Gibraltar.

2012 census

Statistics for the usually-Resident Population and Persons Present in Gibraltar. A usual resident of Gibraltar, for census purposes, is anyone who, on 12 November 2012: (a) was in Gibraltar and had stayed or intended to stay in Gibraltar for a period of 12 months or more, or; (b) has a permanent Gibraltar address but is outside Gibraltar and intends to be outside Gibraltar for less than 12 months.

Rank Nationality Percent of total population Population
1 Gibraltarian 79.0% 25,444
2 UK and Other British 13.2% 4,249
3 Spanish 2.1% 675
4 Moroccan 1.6% 522
5 Other EU 2.4% 785
6 Other* 1.6% 519
(*) Includes all nationalities different from Gibraltarian, UK and other British and Moroccan.

The 2012 census showed a total Usually-Resident population of 32,194. There was a small decrease in the proportion of Gibraltarians (79.0%), an increase in the ratio of "Other British" (13.2%) and a small increase in the ratio of "Other" (6.2%).

Culture

Gibraltarians, 1856

Religion

The main religion of Gibraltar is Christianity with the majority of Gibraltarians belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Other Christian denominations include the Church of England, the Gibraltar Methodist Church, the Church of Scotland, various Pentecostal and independent churches mostly influenced by the House Church and Charismatic movements, as well as a Plymouth Brethren congregation. There is also a ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jehovah's Witnesses. There are a number of Hindu Indians, a Moroccan Muslim population, members of the Baháʼí Faith and a long-established Jewish community.

Rank Religion Proportion (%) of Gibraltarians
1 Roman Catholic 78.09%
2 Church of England 6.98%
3 Muslim 4.01%
4 Other Christian 3.21%
5 None 2.86%
6 Jewish 2.12%
7 Hindu 1.79%
8 Other or unspecified 0.94%

Languages

See also: Languages of Gibraltar

English (used in schools and for official purposes) and Spanish are the main languages of Gibraltar. Although English is the official language, Gibraltarians are typically bilingual, speaking Spanish as fluently as English. Most Gibraltarians converse in Llanito, Gibraltar's vernacular. It is an old dialect of Andalusian Spanish with modern British English influence, as well as influences from Genoese Ligurian, Maltese, Portuguese and Haketia. Gibraltarians may also code-switch to English. Hebrew is spoken by the significant Jewish community. Arabic is also spoken by the Moroccan community, similar to Hindi and Sindhi being spoken by the Indian community of Gibraltar. Maltese is still spoken by some families of Maltese descent.

Gibraltarians have a light, but unique, accent when speaking English; the accent is primarily influenced by Andalusian Spanish and southern British English. Many educated Gibraltarians are able to converse in Received Pronunciation.

Notable Gibraltarians

Main article: List of Gibraltarians

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gibraltar". The World Factbook. CIA. 11 January 2023.
  2. "Government Publishes Bill to recognise British Sign Language as a language of Gibraltar - 274/2022". Government of Gibraltar. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  3. Gold, Peter (2005). Gibraltar: British or Spanish?. Routledge. p. 6.
  4. Harvey, Maurice (1996). Gibraltar: A History. Spellmount Limited. p. 68. ISBN 1-86227-103-8.
  5. Gold, Peter (2005). Gibraltar: British Or Spanish?. Psychology Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-415-34795-2.
  6. Edward G. Archer (2006). "Ethnic factors". Gibraltar, identity and empire. Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-415-34796-9.
  7. Jackson, William (1990). The Rock of the Gibraltarians. A History of Gibraltar (second ed.). Grendon, Northamptonshire, UK: Gibraltar Books. p. 225. ISBN 0-948466-14-6. The open frontier helped to increase the Spanish share, and naval links with Menorca produced the small Menorcan contingent.
  8. Edward G. Archer (2006). Gibraltar, identity and empire. Routledge. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-0-415-34796-9.
  9. Research on Genoese surnames in Gibraltar (in Italian)
  10. History of the Chipulina family in Gibraltar
  11. ^ "Gibraltar Telephone Directory". gibyellow.gi.
  12. Levey, David (2008). "English, Spanish... and Yanito". Language Change and Variation in Gibraltar. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 978-9027218629. Yanito (or Llanito) is the name popularly given to the native of Gibraltar as well as the local/vernacular they speak
  13. "llanito, ta". Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish) (23rd ed.). Madrid: Real Academia Española. 2014.
  14. Adrian Room (1 January 2006). Nicknames of Places: Origins and Meanings of the Alternate and Secondary Names, Sobriquets, Titles, Epithets and Slogans for 4600 Places Worldwide. McFarland & Company. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7864-2497-9.
  15. ^ "Census of Gibraltar" (PDF). Gibraltar.gov.gi. 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  16. "Gibraltar Methodist Church". The Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  17. "National Baha'i Communities | The Baháʼí Faith". Bahai.org. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  18. "People". Official Government of Gibraltar London website. 2005. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  19. Jacobs, Joseph. "Gibraltar". JewishEncyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  20. Census of Gibraltar 2001
  21. "Language of Gibraltar". 16 April 2014.
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