According to A. Bongioanni, the surname Bevacqua literally means “one who drinks water” and likely originated as a nickname. E. Rossoni agrees with a nickname origin, suggesting it may have been a humorous epithet given either to a person particularly fond of wine or, ironically, to a teetotaller, something considered unusual at the time.

F. Miranda also considers a nickname related to the drinking habits of the original bearer a plausible explanation, but adds that the surname may alternatively derive from place names such as Bevilacqua, found in the areas of Ferrara, Verona, and Bologna. The surname is especially associated with Calabria and Sicily, although Miranda notes its presence in several other Italian regions as well.