E. Rossoni proposes two possible origins from medieval nicknames. The first would link them to the term cervellata, a type of sausage with saffron, which would suggest that the first bearers of the surname were pork butchers. The second would relate them to cervelliera, a type of medieval helmet, which would point to an origin linked to the military world. The presence of the surname is concentrated in the Bologna area —with localities such as Bologna, Imola, Molinella and Castenaso—, in the Ferrara area —with Ferrara and Argenta— and in the Ravenna area.

F. De Laurentiis, for his part, proposes a derivation from the name Cervella, without developing further details about its meaning or context.