E. De Felice and V. Blunda differ on the origin of the surname.

De Felice identifies it as a surname peculiar to northeastern Sicily, formed from the place name Alì Superiore and Alì Terme (in the Messina area). He notes that it also derives from the ethnonym in -òto (from the Greek-Byzantine derivative suffix -ó'tes), meaning "inhabitant, native of Alì" (in Sicilian Aliòtu).

Blunda, on the other hand, derives it from the Arabic etymon ‘aliy ("high, elevated, supreme"), one of the most widespread personal names throughout the Islamic world. He recalls that it is the name of the son-in-law and cousin of the prophet Muhammad, founder of Shiism. He notes that it was adopted in Sicily during the Emirate (827–1091) and settled as a surname.