From the place name Taverna, common in different parts of Italy. It means "inn, tavern" in.

The authors agree that this surname derives from two possible sources: the term taverna, linked to the trade or the customs of the family's founder, or else a place name that contained that same root, frequent in different regions of Italy.

E. De Felice notes that the surname was formed from the place name Taverna or Taverne, common in Italy with various local variants, among them those of the provinces of Milan, Piacenza, Forlì, Siena, Naples, Campobasso and Catanzaro. He further indicates that the surnames Tavernari, Tavernai and Tavernieri derive from the trade name tavernaio, tavernaro or taverniere, that is, "owner or manager of a tavern". He clarifies that this term formerly designated a posting station for horses and, in Tuscany, also a butcher's shop. He likewise mentions the forms Tavernese, as a demonym, and Taverniti or Taverniti —typical of Calabria— as a southern variant.

E. Rossoni confirms the double toponymic and professional origin of the surname, and offers a more detailed geographical distribution. He places the surname Taverna in Lombardy, Piedmont, the Genoa area, the Parma area, the Udine area, Calabria and Sicily; the variant Taverni in the Florence area and Pontassieve; and the form Tavernini mainly in the north of the Brescia area and in the Trento area.

F. Miranda specifies that, in the professional hypothesis, the surname could have arisen both from the practice of tavern-keeping and from the habitual frequenting of a tavern by the first bearer. On the distribution in Sicily, he provides a detailed list: Taverna families are documented in localities of the Catania area —such as Caltagirone, Giarre and Mascalucia—, of the Agrigento area —such as Racalmuto and Palma di Montechiaro—, of the Enna area —such as Regalbuto and Centuripe— and in the Palermo area, including Corleone and Cinisi.