Thanks for your research brother,
here I found some intersting stuff that may apply to your article aswell

The word 'Mafia' was first mentioned in literature was published in a list of heretics in 1668. It followed the name of a witch, and meant 'boldness', 'ambition', and 'arrogance'. None of these qualities were considered proper for a woman, and thus the word 'mafia' took on its first negative connotation.

Many people also believe that Arabic affected the word 'mafia' during the period of Arab control of Sicily, after the fall of the Roman Empire in 846 AD. 'Mahias' is an Arab word meaning 'bold man', and this is believed to be incorporated into the modern term mafia, which also implies the bold and aggressive nature of its constituents.