The surname Pizzati is of nickname origin and presents different possible interpretations. In this sense, E. Rossoni documents its presence as early as the 15th century in Lunigiana, which confirms its antiquity as a hereditary surname in northern Italy.

For his part, V. Blunda proposes a Sicilian dialect interpretation, deriving it from pizzàtu ('spotted'), which suggests a nickname applied to people with visible physical traits, such as freckles or marks on the skin. In this way, the surname may reflect a descriptive designation, although its historical documentation indicates an early diffusion in different areas of Italy.