Some speculate that the name originates from French soldiers taken prisoner in Hostalric during the Crusade against the Crown of Aragon, who were taken to work "reluctantly" (mal great, in Catalan) According to Bernat Boades, in the Libre dels Feyts d'armes de Catalunya, "He made them go to work in a big tower near the sea. As they went there reluctantly, they went from Palafolls to work in that land they called Malgrat (reluctantly)"
The origin of the name is speculated to be French soldiers captured during the Crusade against the Crown of Aragon, who were forced to work "reluctantly" (mal great, in Catalan). According to Bernat Boades, this was documented in the Libre dels Feyts d'armes de Catalunya.