F. Miranda notes that Grippaldi has variants such as Grippa, Grippi and Grippo, and proposes three etymological hypotheses: it could derive from aphetic or augmentative forms of the Latin cognomen Agrippa; from the name of Germanic origin Grippaudo, itself an alteration of Warimbald; or from the dialect term grippa, meaning "wrinkle, furrow", possibly used as a nickname referring to the physical characteristics or the age of the first bearer.

V. Blunda focuses on the Germanic root and proposes that the surname derives from the compound Gripp Wald, formed by gripp —"to seize, to grasp firmly", the root that gave modern German greifen and English grip— and wald —"power, command"—, with the sense "lord of the firm fist" or "ruler of the grasp". This reading reflects the Germanic conception of the chief as one who exercises his authority with vigour, both in combat and in the functions of government.

Both authors agree in placing the surname mainly in Sicily. Miranda specifies its presence in the Catania, Palermo, Ragusa, Syracuse and Agrigento areas, as well as in the Enna area. He also indicates areas of lesser concentration in Piedmont, Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Campania, Calabria and Liguria.