A. Bongioanni and E. Rossoni agree that the surname has a Latin origin, linked to the name Rutilius.

Bongioanni identifies it as a Latin given name: Rutilius is equivalent to rosseggiante, "reddish." He mentions a saint celebrated on 2 August and records as a derived surname Rutelli, although he considers it doubtful.

Rossoni specifies that Rutilio is absolutely very rare, while Rutilli, very infrequent, would seem to be of the Mantua area. He suggests that they could derive from the Gens Rutilia of ancient Rome, to which belonged, for example, Lucius Rutilius Minervalis, a propraetor in Gaul.

Rossoni also proposes as an alternative a possible connection with the Latin cognomen Rutilus or the praenomen Rutilius, illustrated by the Late Latin writer of the 5th century Rutilius Claudius Namatianus.