The authors agree that it is a typically Sicilian surname of dialectal origin, derived from the word chìnnici, which in Sicilian means "fifteen". The most widespread hypothesis is that it functioned originally as a nickname applied to the fifteenth child of a large family, and that later dialectal modifications shifted the accent, generating the variant Chinnìci, with the penultimate syllable stressed.

V. Blunda qualifies that the motivation of the nickname could have been broader: not only the order of birth, but also the fifteenth day of the month or another family circumstance linked to that number. He also notes that the surnames of southern Italy based on numerals are infrequent and usually respond to very specific biographical facts fixed as a nickname.

As for its geographical distribution, E. Rossoni documents it mainly in the Palermo area —Belmonte Mezzagno, Palermo and Misilmeri— and in the Catania area —Catania and Misterbianco—. F. Miranda broadens that picture: he also records presence in the Messina, Caltanissetta, Enna and Agrigento areas, as well as specific areas in Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Lazio and Sardinia.