The authors agree that Brischetta is a Sicilian surname of dialectal origin, although they propose different motivations for its formation.

E. Rossoni proposes two hypotheses: it could derive from a diminutive form of the Catalan term brisca ("scoundrel, rogue"), with the sense of "little rogue"; or, according to another theory, from a nickname based on the Sicilian term brischettu, which designates the front part of the carcass of the sheep or ram, in which case it would refer to shepherd ancestors. He notes that the form Brischetta is very rare, with a small cluster in Piazza Armerina, in the Enna area; Brischetti, extremely rare, is from the Catania area; and Brischetto is typical of the Catania area, especially of Acireale, Catania, Aci Sant'Antonio, Mascali and Santa Venerina.

V. Blunda presents it as a Sicilian surname of dialectal origin, linked to popular cooking. It comes from the dialectal word brischèttu, meaning "rib section of sheep". As a surname it could have originated in the trade of the butcher or, more probably, as a nickname applied to a thin person with visible ribs, a frequent motivation in Sicilian surnames descriptive of the body. He also notes that the word is very similar to bruschetta, which designates the rib section of pork.