The authors agree that the surname derives from a Greek base that refers to the crow. E. Rossoni notes that the origin is found in the ancient Greek term korax, korakos ("crow"), which would have given rise to a name or nickname. V. Blunda specifies the Greek form as còracas, also with the meaning of "crow", and indicates that the nickname would be applied to an ancestor for his complexion, his character or some trait associated with the animal. Blunda also notes that this surname is parallel to Coraci, recorded in another entry of his work with the same Greek root.

As for the geographical distribution, Rossoni places the surname mainly in the zone of the Strait of Messina: on the Calabrian side, in the Reggio Calabria area, with presence in Taurianova, Polistena and Cinquefrondi; and on the Sicilian side, in the Messina area, with presence in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Messina and Sinagra, in addition to a zone in the Palermo area. Blunda, for his part, places it in Sicily. The form Corico, according to Rossoni, is practically unique and of Sicilian origin.