The authors agree that this surname derives from the personal name Pasqualis, a Late Latin form that gave rise to the medieval name Pasquale. E. De Felice specifies that the Latin pasqualis meant “born at Easter” and was a late variant of Paschalis, in turn derived from Pasqua or Paschua, and these from the term Pascha. F. De Laurentiis notes that the medieval adjective pasquale(m) meant “relating to Easter” or “born at Easter,” as a late variant of the Latin paschale(m). F. Miranda adds the most extensive etymological chain: from the Aramaic pascha and the Hebrew pesach.

As to geographic distribution, Miranda indicates that the surname is spread throughout Italy, with a greater presence in the Centre-North: Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, the Marche, Piedmont, Liguria and Trentino-Alto Adige. De Felice highlights the presence of related forms in Veneto. Miranda also records variants such as Pascale, Pascali, Pasquale, Pasqualetti, Pasqualetto, Pasqualini, Pasqualino and Di Pasquale, a name given to children born during the Easter festivities.