Goffredo Malaterra says that he was a knight of very noble lineage, who inherited the village of Hauteville (probably Hauteville-la-Guichard, north-west of Coutances, in Normandy) from his ancestors.

Supposedly, while residing at the court of Richard II, Duke of Normandy, he went hunting with him, and heroically killed a boar.

Instead of being punished (as it was medieval custom that only the duke could slay the hunt’s target), Tancred was praised for his actions.

When Muriella died, Tancred married Fressenda, whom, according to Malaterra, "in birth and morals was by no means inferior to his first wife".

Malaterra specifies the reasons of Tancred's choice to remarry: Since he was not yet old, he did not feel ready to practice continence, but being an honest man and abhorring illicit relationships, he took a second wife.