The surname Quartarone presents an origin probably linked to terms of measure or fractioning, with different possible interpretations according to the historical and geographic context.

On the one hand, it could derive from the French term quarteron ("a quarter part of something"), incorporated into the local dialects during the Angevin domination in southern Italy. In this case, the nickname would have been used to designate a person partly dependent on others or of modest social condition.

On the other hand, an origin has been proposed in the Sicilian dialect word quartarùni, which indicated a subdivision of old units of weight measure used in trade. In this sense, the surname could have arisen as a byname linked to commercial activities or the handling of goods.

In some cases, especially in Sicily, a possible toponymic origin is not ruled out, related to places containing the root Quart-, such as Quartarella in the province of Ragusa.

As happens with other Italian surnames, these different hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and may reflect independent origins for different lines that today share the same surname.