E. Rossoni proposes that the surname would derive from the medieval Italian name Cante, of which there is an illustrious example in the Guelph politician Cante dei Gabrielli da Gubbio (c. 1260–1335), who served as Podestà of Pistoia, Siena and Florence, and issued in 1302 the famous sentences of condemnation against Dante Alighieri. F. De Laurentiis, for his part, suggests two alternative hypotheses: that the surname has as its base a nickname given to the one who sang frequently and with pleasure, or that it derives from the place name Cantello, in the Varese area.

The surname presents multiple independent clusters of origin, arisen in different regions without direct relation to each other. Rossoni documents its presence in Emilia-Romagna —especially in the Modena, Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì and Rimini areas—, in Tuscany —Florence, Arezzo, Siena and Grosseto areas—, in Lombardy to the north of the Milan area and in the Varese area, in Liguria, in the Veneto —Rovigo area—, in Lazio —Rome—, in Campania —Caserta and Naples areas— and in the Marche —Pesaro area—.