The authors agree that the surname was formed from the name of Germanic origin Anselmo, meaning "protected by God", "divine protection" or "divine helmet", composed of the elements ans/ansh ("divinity, Germanic god") and helm/helma ("helmet, protection"). They also point to the figure of Saint Anselm as an important factor in the diffusion of the name.

A. Bongioanni records the name as documented in the forms Anshalm and Anshelm. He mentions three equally venerated saints: Saint Anselm of Aosta (21 April), Saint Anselm of Nonantola (3 March) and Saint Anselm of Lucca (18 March).

F. De Laurentiis adds that the name was introduced to Italy by the Lombards and is documented from the 6th century. It spread especially through the prestige and cult of the Doctor of the Church Saint Anselm of Aosta. He notes that the surname is widespread, with medium frequency, throughout Italy.

V. Blunda, for the Sicilian variant, specifies that the Germanic compound Ans Helma is associated with Lombard and Norman onomastics, and had great diffusion in Sicily during the medieval period. He recalls that the most famous figure was Saint Anselm of Aosta (1033–1109), archbishop of Canterbury and scholastic philosopher.