They are said to be descended from Hiallt, a Norseman who settled in the Cotentin Peninsula and founded the village of Hialtus Villa (Hauteville) from which the family takes its name.
Mereka dikatakan berasal dari Hiallt, Norseman yang menetap di Semenanjung Cotentin dan mendirikan desa Hialtus Villa (Hauteville) dari mana keluarganya mengambil namanya.