The surname Bari presents a mainly toponymic origin, linked to the city of the same name in southern Italy. According to E. Rossoni, it derives directly from the name of the city of Bari, which indicates that in many cases it identified people coming from that place. He also notes that in certain cases it may be families of Jewish origin, which introduces a historical and cultural nuance into the diffusion of the surname.

For his part, F. De Laurentiis confirms this possible toponymic derivation, but adds another interpretation based on the noun baro, meaning "cheat in games, especially cards" or "swindler". In this sense, the surname could also have originated as a nickname, linked to behaviours or reputations within the community.