E. De Felice and E. Rossoni agree that the surname derives from an original nickname formed from the term saetta —Sicilian and Calabrian saitta—, with the meaning of "arrow, dart" or "lightning bolt."

De Felice specifies that the nickname was given in relation to the trade of arrow maker, of archer or crossbowman, or with the exceptional speed and swiftness of the person so named.

Rossoni distinguishes two main zones: one in Campania —in Naples, Ottaviano, Casoria and Sant'Anastasia, in the Naples area— and another in Sicily —in Palermo, in San Cataldo (Caltanissetta area), in Syracuse and Noto (Syracuse area), in Graniti (Messina area) and in Canicattì (Agrigento area). He adds that the Sicilian zone is probably due to the Italianization of the more frequent Saitta.

Rossoni also suggests that, in general, it could derive from nicknames or from names of localities.