P. Durante notes that the surname is of Greek origin, derived from tympanon, a term that designated a membrane percussion instrument.

V. Blunda specifies that it is a Sicilian surname of dialectal origin, derived from the Sicilian word tìmpanu, meaning "tambourine", which in turn goes back to the Greek týmpanon, a struck-membrane instrument widespread throughout the Mediterranean basin. As a surname, Blunda considers that it could have originated in a nickname applied to someone who played it at festivities.