According to E. De Felice, the surname Accolti is rare and is found mainly in Tuscany —with its epicentre in Florence and Arezzo— and also in Puglia. It derives from the personal name Accòlto, documented since the 12th century in Latinised forms such as Accoltus. This name has a clear auspicious value, since it means "received with joy", in reference to an awaited and well-received child; frequently, moreover, it is interpreted as a hypocoristic of Benaccòlto.

For his part, E. Rossoni agrees on its origin and interprets it as an abbreviated patronymic form of the medieval name Benaccolto, also given to particularly longed-for children, which reinforces its symbolic character within the family tradition.