A. Bongioanni, G. P. Holmes and V. Blunda agree that the surname derives from a medieval personal name linked to the concept of "friend", although they differ on the origin they attribute to it.

A. Bongioanni notes that it is a literary given name, coming from the poem or romance Amico ed Amelio. He adds that it may also be independent of that etymology, especially in the compound Buonamico.

G. P. Holmes agrees on the medieval origin and explains that it means "friend", deriving from the medieval name Amicus, which means "benevolent and cordial person who shows friendship".

V. Blunda provides a regional perspective, noting that it is a Sicilian surname of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name Amicho, linked to the Proto-Germanic root that gave the Latin amicus and the Italian amico. He warns that the etymology of the term "friend" is debated between Germanic and Latin roots, but that the medieval anthroponym clearly belongs to the Lombard repertoire. He explains that, as a name, it spread widely because of its positive semantic charge, indicating the bearer as an affable and loyal person.