According to E. De Felice, Altamura is a toponymic surname derived from the town of Altamura, in the province of Bari, Puglia. The surname originally identified a person or family who came from that locality and later spread throughout southern Italy, particularly in the areas of Bari and Naples.

E. Rossoni agrees with this interpretation, confirming that the surname derives directly from the place name Altamura and served as an indicator of geographical origin. He also notes that its presence in other regions of southern Italy can often be explained by historical migrations, including population movements from Puglia into neighboring areas during the early modern period.

The place name Altamura is generally interpreted as meaning “high walls,” from the Italian elements alta (“high”) and mura (“walls”), a reference to the fortified character of the settlement.

Overall, Altamura is a surname of geographical origin that preserves the memory of ancestral roots in the city of Altamura in Puglia.