F. De Laurentiis and F. Miranda agree that the surname derives from the name of Germanic origin Tebaldo, meaning "valiant among the people". Miranda specifies that the medieval forms are Thealdus or Theobaldus, the latter coming from the Lombard Theobald, composed of theuda ("people") and baltha ("valiant, brave"), and that its presence in Italy is documented from the 10th century. E. De Felice also identifies it as a surname formed from the name of Germanic origin Tebaldo, although his article remains incomplete.

As for the geographical distribution, De Laurentiis notes that the surname is diffused sporadically in the north of Italy, with a greater frequency in Emilia-Romagna, and also in the centre. Miranda offers a more detailed picture: the surname is present in around 230 Italian communes, with zones of greater concentration in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto, a more moderate presence in the Marche and Lazio, and small groups in Piedmont, Tuscany and Liguria. In Sicily, Miranda records its appearance only in Regalbuto, in the province of Enna.