The authors agree in pointing to a Greek origin for this surname, although they differ on the etymology and the geographical distribution. E. Rossoni proposes a derivation from the Renaissance name Anaclerius, documented in Naples in the 17th century in the work Massanielli Seditio Neapolitana, and places its presence in Naples, Pozzuoli, Bari, Taranto, Modugno and Mola di Bari.

G. Rohlfs classifies it as a surname of Greek-Byzantine origin and documents it in his repertory of Basilicata surnames with Greek etymology, with presence in Policoro and Sant'Arcàngelo, as well as in the dialectal area of the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto, where it appears in the form Annaclério. For Rohlfs, the surname reflects the influence of the Byzantine presence in southern Italy.

V. Blunda proposes a different and more specific etymology: it derives from the Greek etymon naúkleros, composed of naýs ("ship") and klēros ("lot, assigned share"), with the sense of "captain of a crew" or "ship-owner". Blunda considers it a surname of Sicilian origin that bears witness to the central role of navigation in the economy of the Mediterranean.