The authors agree that this surname is an adaptation of the Spanish surname Pérez, of patronymic origin, formed with the suffix -ez from the personal name Pero —the equivalent of the Italian Pietro or the Spanish Pedro—, with the meaning of "son of Pero."

E. De Felice notes that its greater frequency is concentrated in southern Italy, especially in Naples and Palermo.

F. Miranda offers a more detailed distribution: the surname is present in specific areas of Italy in Sicily, Lombardy and Lazio, with a smaller presence in Campania, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Apulia. In Sicily it appears in all the provinces; the most important concentrations are found in the Palermo area —with localities such as Bagheria, Santa Flavia and Palermo itself—, in the Syracuse area —Syracuse, Noto, Floridia—, in the Messina area —Messina, Naso, Santo Stefano di Camastra—, in the Agrigento area —Licata, Ravanusa, Sciacca— and in the Catania area —Caltagirone, Gravina di Catania, Scordia.