The surname Pala shows a multiple origin, with different interpretations according to the authors. In this sense, F. De Laurentiis notes that it may derive from nicknames or occupational names linked to the Latin term pala ("shovel", "hoe"), applied to those who used these tools or, in a figurative sense, to certain characteristics of the bearer.

For his part, E. Rossoni proposes several alternative hypotheses in the Sardinian sphere: a derivation from the dialect word pala ("bust" or "bodice"), a toponymic origin from place names such as Pala di Scivu or Pala Cotta, or else a reference to the old Sardinian term pala with the meaning "small hill" or "slope". In this way, the surname may reflect both an occupational or descriptive origin and a territorial link, with a strong presence and documented antiquity in Sardinia.