The surname Bertaglia is characteristic of the Ferrara and Rovigo area, with possible clusters also in Piedmont. According to E. Rossoni, it is a patronymic form derived from the name Berto, where the suffix -aglia indicates "the group of the sons of", that is, a common family or descent. This type of formation was common in medieval Italy to identify lineages from a male ancestor.

From the historical point of view, E. Rossoni documents the presence of the surname as early as 1403 in the locality of Cento (Bologna area), which shows its antiquity and rooting in northern Italy. The geographical distribution reinforces its regional character, especially in areas close to each other between Emilia and the Veneto.

For his part, F. De Laurentiis proposes a more synthetic interpretation, considering it derived from Bèrti, another patronymic form linked to the same base name. Taken together, both interpretations agree in pointing to an anthroponymic origin, centred on the medieval name Berto and its evolution into various family forms.