G. Rohlfs notes that this surname is of Greek-Byzantine origin, present in the provinces of Catanzaro and Reggio Calabria. It derives from the Greek βαρελᾶς, meaning "cooper". He records the forms Barrilà in the Lamezia Terme area and the Locri area, the Neapolitan forms Barilà and Barillà, and the Sicilian forms Barilà and Barrilà. He also indicates that in Argentina the accent may be lost, resulting in the spelling Barila.

P. Durante, on the other hand, proposes a different Greek origin: he links it to the term baris, meaning "boat-maker".

E. Rossoni offers a different and broader perspective: he considers that the surnames of this family derive from the trade of the craftsman maker of barrels. He notes that the form with double l is the archaic one, documented in the Baldus of Teofilo Folengo, and that the surnames are recorded in the Bergamo area from the second half of the 14th century and in Venice in 1577. Among the related forms, he highlights Barilli, very widespread in Emilia and especially in the Bologna area, and Barile, extended throughout Italy with greater concentration in the peninsular south.