The surname Antolini belongs to the large group of surnames derived from the personal name Antonio, one of the most widespread given names in Italy since the Middle Ages. The surname developed through phonetic simplification, dialectal variations, and the addition of patronymic or diminutive suffixes. In this context, the suffix -ini generally indicates descent, giving the surname the meaning of “sons of Antonio” or “descendants of Antonio.”

F. De Laurentiis, however, suggests that some branches of the surname may have a different origin. He proposes a connection with Antola, the name of a mountain and locality in the Ligurian Apennines, between the Val Scrivia and Val Trebbia. In these cases, Antolini would be a toponymic surname identifying families originating from that area.

From a geographical perspective, Surnames in Italy records a significant concentration of the surname in Trentino-Alto Adige and Emilia-Romagna, while F. De Laurentiis highlights its distribution from eastern Liguria into Emilia-Romagna.

Taken together, the evidence suggests that Antolini may have both patronymic and toponymic origins, depending on the family line, deriving either from the personal name Antonio or from the locality of Antola in Liguria.