E. Rossoni and V. Blunda differ on the origin of the surname.

Rossoni suggests that it should be a contracted form of the Italianization of a diminutive variant of the medieval name Ragacius (see RAGAZZI). He notes as an alternative a derivation from a nickname originated in the Romagna term ragajo ("the crossbar to which the ropes were tied on ox-drawn carts"), which would indicate in the founder of the line a carter who used that type of cart.

Blunda, on the other hand, for the Sicilian variant derives it from the Germanic compound Ragan Wini, with the meaning of "companion of the divine counsel" or "friend of the counselling gods," formed from ragan ("divine counsel, decision of the gods") and wini ("friend, companion").

Blunda specifies that the root ragan, in Norse cosmology, designated the counsel of the gods (the Æsir gathered in the divine Thing), and appears in terms such as Ragnarök ("the final destiny of the gods, the end of the cosmic world") and in numerous Scandinavian anthroponyms. He notes that the association between the divine counsel and friendship reflects the conception of the anthroponym as an invocation of supernatural protection over the bearer.