E. Rossoni notes that Minardi is typically Sicilian, with a presence at Bagheria and in Palermo. He considers that this surname, together with the variants Minardo and Minaudo, would derive from later modifications —dialect ones as well— of the medieval name Menardus, of which a documentary example dated 1188 is preserved.

Both authors agree that the etymological base is the name of Germanic origin and Frankish tradition Maginhard (Mainardo), with the meaning "hard, fearsome for his strength". F. De Laurentiis adds no further information on this point.

Rossoni adds that the variant Minaudo is also Sicilian, concentrated mainly in the province of Trapani —in localities such as Valderice, Trapani, Erice, Buseto Palizzolo, San Vito lo Capo and Paceco—, while Minardo appears distributed irregularly throughout Italy.