The authors agree that this surname derives from the Greek Kalokioures or Kalokyres, composed of kalos ("good, beautiful") and kyrios ("lord"), with the general meaning of "good lord" or "good man". V. Blunda specifies that the surname functioned originally as a nickname applied to the ancestor for his authority or lordly bearing. Both E. Rossoni and F. Miranda also gather the interpretation of the linguist G. Rohlfs, according to whom the Greek term kalokyris simply means "priest".

Blunda also notes that there are graphic variants arisen from adaptations of the same etymon: Calafiore, Calagiore, Caliciuri, Caligiore, Caligiuri and Calofiore. Rossoni documents that the form Caliciuri is very rare and peculiar to the Reggio Calabria area.

The surname has presence mainly in Sicily, with specific areas in the provinces of Catania —where Miranda mentions localities such as Biancavilla and San Cono—, Caltanissetta —with Butera and Gela—, Palermo, Enna, Messina and Agrigento. Miranda extends its distribution to other regions of northern and central Italy, although the main cluster remains on the island.