1) Italian surname 
(lived 13th - 16th century) Italian family who ruled Rimini with intermissions between the 13th and the 16th century. After Rimini was defeated by Cesena, Giovanni Malatesta was appointed podestà of the town in 1237,...
Malatesta were a distinguished Italian family the chief branch of which were lords of Rimini from 1295 to 15'26, and celebrated for the active share they took in the stirring events of that period.