The authors agree that this surname derives from the Germanic name of Lombard tradition Garibaldo (also Gariboldo), composed of gaira or gari (spear) and baltha or bald (bold, brave), with the original meaning of "bold with the spear". E. De Felice documents the oldest forms from the beginning of the 8th century: Garibald (715), Gairipald (720) and Garipald (757). E. Rossoni provides a concrete medieval testimony: in the year 983, the Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia Medioevale mentions a "Garibaldus iudex et advocatus" in Cremona.

From the geographical point of view, the authors place the surname mainly in Liguria. De Felice notes that the forms in -aldi predominate in Liguria, the forms in -oldo in Lombardy and the forms in -audo in Piedmont. Rossoni specifies that Garibaldi seems of Ligurian origin, while Gariboldi is concentrated in the provinces of Milan, Pavia, Lodi and Piacenza; Garibotti is peculiar to Genoa and Chiavari, and Garibotto is located in Sestri Levante and Casarza Ligure. P. Regati adds that the surname is typical of the Val Graveglia, in Ne, with diffusion also in Genoa and in the Imperia area.

De Felice also observes that the form Garimoldi results from a crossing with Grimoldi. V. Blunda documents presence of the surname in Sicily and notes that the variant Galibardi presents a consonantal metathesis characteristic of some dialectal forms.