ORIGINS OF QUARTERMAN

["robin quarterman" <robinquarterman@hotmail.com>]

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Hi!
Greetings from an English Quarterman!

Have not long joined the list and think it is a very good idea.

Is anyone out there aware that the surname also exists in Italy?

It is QUATTROMANI, but it means the same and the coat of arms is virtually 
identical to Quarterman.

There are quite a few Quattromani families in the States who are obviously 
Italian immigrant descendents.In Italy today there are many, mostly centred 
in the south- Calabria,Napoli,Rome etc.

The surname exists here because the Normans invaded and ruled the south of 
what is now Italy about the same time as the conquest of England.(They 
created Palermo as the capital of Sicily)
The name has also connections with Italian nobility and the island of Malta.

I am wondering whether the surname began, or had its origination in Norman 
Italy?

I tend to think this because i cannot find any evidence that the knights 
quatremaynes came over with the conquest of England, or where they came from 
in Normandy.
Carter postulates Caen in Normandy, yet there is no trace of them ever 
coming from this place.Infact the QUATREMAINES in France today (there does 
not seem to be very many) live mostly around Paris and not one in Normandy.

In Italy there are many many Quattromani families, outnumbering the French 
Quatremains.Also i know that Italian Normans DID settle in England and 
Normandy in the 100 years after the conquest, even though the two kingdoms 
were ruled separately and not part of an actual empire.
(The amphibious element of William's invasion was only made possible by the 
advice and assistance of Italian Normans,who already had much experience of 
it in the conquest of Sicily)

Lastly there is a family in Italy called 'Cinquemani' - meaning Five 
hands!!!!!
(Although i don't think there is a serious connection here)

I shall endeavour to contact some of the French Quatremains and Italian 
Quattromani in due course.
There is a QUATTROMANI ancestral website under construction on Malta net, 
showing only the coat of arms at the moment.It can be accessed via most 
genealogy sites.

I would be very interested in anybodies opinions regarding this theory.

Farewell,Robin.

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