The surname Canova and its variants —such as Caneva, Canevaro or Canevari— originate in medieval terms linked to the commercial and domestic sphere. According to E. De Felice, they derive from cànova or càneva, words that designated a cellar, pantry or shop where products such as wine, oil or cereals were stored and sold. From these forms also arose trade names such as canovàio or canevaro, which identified the cellarman or the person in charge of these stores. In many cases, the surname could derive directly from these trades or from place names formed on the same root.

Along the same lines, F. De Laurentiis confirms this multiple origin, noting that the surname spread especially in northern Italy —in particular in the Venetias and Emilia-Romagna— and that it can derive both from trade names and from place names and gentilics related to canova. He also highlights the wide presence of localities with this name in different Italian regions, which reinforces the possibility of a geographical origin in many cases.

For his part, E. Rossoni agrees on the toponymic derivation, mentioning numerous places called Canova in northern Italy, and adds that the term could also refer to a "new house" or to a cellar or tavern in a broad sense. He also recalls the figure of the sculptor Antonio Canova, which shows the historical relevance of the surname. Taken together, the various interpretations agree in noting an origin linked to spaces of storage and trade, with both occupational and toponymic developments.