The surname Atri is interpreted, according to the main scholars, from a toponymic origin linked to a specific locality of central-southern Italy. E. De Felice notes that it is widespread from Abruzzo to the Neapolitan area, and that it derives from the name of the city of Atri (province of Teramo), together with its ethnic form d'Atri. In this sense, the surname would indicate geographical provenance, that is, families originating from that locality or historically linked to it.

For his part, E. Rossoni agrees with this interpretation, indicating that these surnames derive directly from the place name Atri, in the Teramo area. This agreement between authors reinforces the reading of Atri as a surname formed from the name of a place, following a mechanism very frequent in the formation of Italian surnames.