The surnames Sorace, Soraci, Surace, Suraci, Soracca, Soracchi, Soracco —some of them almost extinct— have several hypotheses proposed about their origin:

• It could derive from the Italianization of the Arabic name Sorak or Soraq (in Italian Scirocco), among whose bearers is Mehemet Soraq, governor of Egypt who, with 56 galleys, was in command of one of the wings of the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Lepanto. Or else from the Greek Sōratios or the Latin Soracius, late-antique or Byzantine personal names adapted to the southern Italian context.
• They could also derive from names coming from the Provencal word saurra (pronounced sorra), meaning "sand", perhaps to indicate the provenance of the first bearers from a sandy zone.
• According to another theory, their origin could be found in the Greek place name Soracus in Laconia.
• Another possible origin, though much less likely, would be the Latin term soracus (a trunk or chest for keeping clothes, usually staged).
• A derivation is also possible from nicknames originating in the Arabic word sorraq (thieves).