E. Rossoni notes that the surname derives directly, or through diminutive forms, from place names of localities or districts called Stanga or La Stanga, a name very widespread throughout Italy. Among the documented areas are Brescia and the localities of Borgo San Giacomo, Villachiara, Borgosatollo and Montirone in the Brescia area, as well as Soncino and Cremona in the Cremona area.

R. Brondolo, on the other hand, proposes an appellative origin: it would derive from the dialectal term stanga, meaning "tall, lanky person". Brondolo documents it in Como and in the canton of Ticino (Switzerland), and records its historical presence in Vesime between the 15th and 19th centuries, and in San Giorgio Scarampi, both localities in the south of Piedmont.