The rain and gale-force winds did not keep UM's sociology students away from visiting Senglea on Saturday 25 November 2023, asking home dwellers to explain the choice of their house names.
Malta is one of the few countries in the world where a majority of houses do not just have numbers but also names. Within Malta, Senglea is however one of the localities with the least proportion of house names, perhaps because of its large ratio of rental properties.
Senglea Residents were keen to explain the reasons behind their house names. Religious connections, names of members of the family, combinations of two or three family member names, items of history and local vistas were the most common choices. Maria Bambina and Redentur top the list. These conversations were held on doorsteps, through windows and balconies, but also inside people's homes.
We thank Senglea residents for being so generous with their time and explanations.
The fieldwork is part of the study unit on the Sociology of Space and Place, under the guidance of Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino.
