The authors agree that this surname has multiple origins that are difficult to distinguish from one another. Among the bases of formation are noted the common noun campana (bell), nicknames derived from it, and the trade of bell-ringer (the one who rings the bells). Also considered as a possible origin is the provenance from place names frequent throughout Italy, such as Campana, Campanella or Campanile, as well as from the gentilic of the region of Campania.

E. De Felice notes that the various types of this surname present crossed bases of formation that are no longer distinguishable, which include both trade names and denominations by place of residence or provenance. He indicates that the surname is distributed with medium frequency throughout Italy, with greater presence in Liguria for Campanella and in southern Italy for Campanile. He adds that Campaner is peculiar to the Veneto.

E. Rossoni adds an additional interpretation for the variant Campanini: it could derive from the trade of camparo, that is, the one who opened the sluice gates for the irrigation of the fields, also called camparén in the dialect of Emilia. Rossoni also specifies that the place name Campana is located in the Cosenza area, and that the variants Campani are documented in the Reggio Emilia, Modena and Tuscany areas, while Campanini appears in Emilia and Lombardy.