G. Rohlfs identifies this surname as of Greek-Byzantine origin, present in the city of Reggio Calabria and its province —including localities such as Delianova and Palmi—, as well as in Sicily. He derives it from the Greek skutelàs, with the meaning of "one who makes bowls or basins."

P. Durante, on the other hand, also recognizes a Greek origin, but proposes a different etymology: he links it with the meaning of "maker of sticks," from the Greek root skytale. Both interpretations agree on the Greek substrate of the surname, but differ on the concrete etymon and, therefore, on the trade or activity that would have given rise to the name.