 On 7 October 1095, King Roger I granted the territory of Raffadali to Giorlando Montaperto, son of Giovanni Matteo and Ulla Cassaneto, as a reward for having captured the nearby castle at Monte Guastanella from an Arabic garrison led by one Ali.He thus become lord of the castle and of the "raffa", that is, the surrounding territory.A popular etymology for the name of the Raffadali attributes it to the combination of "Raffa" and Ali.