The set of surnames Calegari, Callegari, Caligari, Calligari, Caliari, Calgaro and numerous kindred variants has a clearly occupational origin, linked to the trade of shoemaker. According to E. De Felice, they derive from medieval names and nicknames such as Calegarius or Caligarius, documented already from the 12th century, which in turn come from the Latin caligarius (from caliga, the Roman military footwear). This term designated one who made, repaired or sold footwear, and gave rise to multiple dialectal forms in northern Italy, such as calegàr, caliàr or callèr, which explains the great diversity of current variants.

Along the same lines, F. De Laurentiis confirms this origin in the trade name caligaro, highlighting its wide diffusion in northern Italy, especially in the regions of the Venetias. He stresses that it is a transformation into a surname of nicknames and names already present in the Middle Ages, linked directly to the artisanal activity of footwear. This coincidence among the authors reinforces the interpretation of a surname typical of the urban and rural trades, comparable to others such as Calzolari.

The base is the same in all cases: the Latin term caligarius and its evolution through the local dialects, which gave rise to multiple variants according to the region, reflecting the linguistic diversity of Italy. All the sources agree in pointing to a clear professional origin.