The authors agree that the surname derives from a Germanic root composed of two elements: the first, haimi / heimat, with the sense of "homeland" or "home", and the second, rikja / rich, with the sense of "power" or "dominion". The whole is interpreted as "powerful in his homeland". This Germanic base was Latinised into Henricus and gave rise to the Italian name Enrico, of which Arrigo is the Italianised form.

V. Blunda notes that the name was borne by the Germanic emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, and points in particular to Henry VI, king of Sicily between 1194 and 1197, father of Frederick II —known as Stupor Mundi—, who consolidated the union between the Norman kingdom of southern Italy and the Swabian dynasty. This historical link would explain the strong presence of the surname in Sicily.

F. Miranda details the geographical distribution: the surname predominates in Sicily, with presence in all its provinces, especially in the Messina area, the Palermo area and the Catania area. Outside the island, it also appears in Lombardy, Liguria, Piedmont, Lazio, Calabria, Tuscany, Sardinia, Campania and Veneto.