P. Durante proposes a Greek origin for this surname, relating it to the term kálon pús, meaning "shoemaker" or "carpenter".

V. Blunda, on the other hand, derives it from the Greek Calopàges, linking its first element to the prefix kalo-, with the sense of "good" or "beautiful". According to Blunda, the Sicilian surname fixes an Italianised spelling of the original personal name, adapted to the Italian graphic system and consolidated through the family line.