According to E. De Felice, Aiello is a habitational surname derived from one of the several places named Aiello found in southern Italy. These place names ultimately stem from the Latin term augellus, meaning “small field,” “small plot of land,” or “small farm.” The surname therefore originally identified a person who came from one of these localities.

E. Rossoni agrees with this interpretation, likewise tracing the surname to southern Italian place names called Aiello, derived from the Latin augellus. The surname belongs to the broad category of Italian surnames formed from geographic origins and indicates ancestral ties to one of these settlements.

The numerous variants of the surname, including Aielli, Ajello, D’Aiello, D’Ajello, Aielo, and others, reflect regional spelling differences and the historical evolution of the name across different parts of Italy.