The authors agree that this surname has its origin in a nickname of a physical character. R. Brondolo describes it as referring to a "small and chubby person". F. Miranda, following F. Violi, specifies that Botta and its variants derive from the medieval name Bottus, coming from the medieval Latin buttis —that is, botte ("barrel, cask")—, used as a nickname to designate a compact and robust person. Miranda adds that the surname could also derive from a personal name of Germanic origin, Boto or Botgis, and notes that in the Calabrian dialect the term botta designates the fruit of the fig tree.

As for its geographical distribution, Miranda indicates that the surname is diffused in the centre-western strip of northern Italy, with specific zones also in Campania, Apulia and Sicily. The regions with the greatest presence are Lombardy, Piedmont, Campania, Sicily, Liguria, Lazio, Apulia, Veneto and Tuscany. In Sicily it is recorded in all the provinces, with a special concentration in the Palermo, Messina, Catania and Enna areas.