Tancred of Hauteville was the Norman noble, about whom little is known ; his historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants. He was a minor noble near Coutances in the Cotentin (Normandy), but it is not even certain which of the 3 villages called Hauteville he held. Various legends later arose about him which have no supporting contemporary evidence.

He had 12 sons by his two wives, and several daughters, almost all of whom left Normandy for southern Italy and acquired some prominence there.

By his first wife Muriel he had 5 sons:

• William Iron-Arm , count of Apulia 1042-1046 (d. 1046)
• Drogo, count of Apulia 1046-1051 (d. 1051)
• Humphrey, count of Apulia 1051-1057 (d. 1057)
• Godfrey, count of Loritello (Italy)
• Serlo (stayed in Normandy)

By his second wife Fressenda (or Fredesenda) he had 7 sons and at least 1 daughter:

• Robert Guiscard, count of Apulia (1057), duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily (1059-1085) (d. 1085)
• Mauger
• William, count of the Principate (d. 1080)
• Alfred (or Alvred) (stayed in Normandy)
• Hubert (stayed in Normandy)
• Tancred
• Roger I of Sicily, count of Sicily in 1062 (d. 1101)
• Fressenda, who married Richard, count of Aversa and Prince of Capua

For the Tancred who participated in the First Crusade, who is sometimes also called Tancred of Hauteville, see Tancred, Prince of Galilee. For the Tancred who was King of Sicily in the late 12th century, see Tancred of Sicily.