The authors differ on the origin of this surname. E. Rossoni derives it from a nickname based on the Calabrian dialectal term barbalàce, meaning "snail" or "slug", possibly in allusion to the founder of the lineage being a hunter or seller of snails. According to Rossoni, it is a typically Calabrian surname, present in the Vibo Valentia area —in localities such as Limbadi, Nicotera and Joppolo— and in the Reggio Calabria area —in Rosarno and San Ferdinando—.

V. Blunda, on the other hand, proposes a Greek origin from the name Barbalàces, linked to the root of bárbaros, with the sense of "foreigner", plus a derivational suffix peculiar to Greek. According to Blunda, the Italianised form of that personal name became fixed as a surname in the onomastics of Sicily.

Both proposals point to areas of southern Italy, although they differ both in the region of origin —Calabria or Sicily— and in the base etymon: a descriptive dialectal term for Rossoni, versus an anthroponym of Greek root for Blunda.