Good point, though in this case the Norman-French origin of Maltalent might have hidden the negative aspect of the name to most people.
The website
www.clanmaitland.org.uk gives two possible meanings for Maltaent - "foul tempered", and "evil genius." The first is really a more emphatic version of "bad grace"; the second, in my opinion relies on the Modern English sense of the word talent, and is unlikely.