Altieri History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Altieri was first found in Rome (Italian: Roma), the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Little can be said in the space available which would do justice to the history of this beautiful city. From 1000 B.C, its history is a book of life itself. The buildings, culture, arts, cathedrals, churches, museums galleries hold untold treasures unequalled anywhere else in the world. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. Bearers of Altieri made up the principal and most illustrious family d'Oriole e duchi di Monterano. They were Princes of Rome. The name comes from a German name, which has two possible origins; the second element is almost certainly from the word "haria," meaning "to practice," but the first element could be either "alda," meaning "old," or "ancient," or it could be "audha," meaning "power," or "riches."