The surname Pacera is of anthroponymic and nickname origin, derived from forms such as Pacera or Paciera. In this sense, E. Rossoni notes that it is an archaic name attributed in some cases as an epithet of the Virgin Mary, which indicates a background of a religious and symbolic character.

For his part, V. Blunda supplies a complementary interpretation, linking it with the dialect word pacèra ("mediator", "peacemaker"), used to describe a person —especially a woman— who intervened in conflicts to restore harmony. In this way, the surname could have originated both as a name of religious value and from a descriptive nickname related to moral and social qualities.