E. De Felice notes that this surname was formed from the appellative Sant'Aniello, adopted mainly through names of localities and places of worship, and refers for its etymology to the surname Agnelli. He highlights its frequency in the Naples area.

E. Rossoni specifies that it is a surname decidedly of the region of Campania, and derives it from the name composed of Santo or Sante plus the name Aniello. He documents it in the Naples area —in localities such as Castellammare di Stabia, Nola, Afragola, Casoria, Gragnano and San Giorgio a Cremano—, in the Avellino area —in Quindici, Lauro, Moschiano, Monteforte Irpino, Serino and Pago del Vallo di Lauro—, in the Salerno area —in Bracigliano, Nocera Inferiore, Sarno, Mercato San Severino and Castel San Giorgio—, and also in Benevento.