According to E. Rossoni, Agricola derives from the ancient Latin personal name and Roman cognomen Agricola, a name already recorded in classical sources and literally meaning “farmer,” “cultivator,” or “peasant.” The surname therefore belongs to the group of hereditary family names that originated from personal names rooted in the agricultural world.

A. Bongioanni notes that Agricola was also used as a Latin given name, comparable in meaning to the Greek name Georgios, both referring to those who work the land. Its diffusion was strengthened by the veneration of Saint Agricola of Bologna, martyred alongside Saint Vitalis during the reign of Diocletian. In Friuli, the saint is traditionally known as San Gricul and is regarded as a patron of farmers.

Bongioanni further observes that, in some cases, the surname may have originated as an Italian translation of German surnames such as Ackermann or Bauer, both meaning “farmer,” although he emphasizes that the Friulian surname is of direct Latin origin.

Overall, both authors agree that Agricola is a surname of ancient Latin origin connected with farming and rural life, preserved through both Roman and Christian traditions before becoming a hereditary surname.