The authors differ on the origin of this surname. E. Rossoni proposes several hypotheses: the nucleus of the Varese area could derive from the place name Valtravaglia, also in the Varese area; other nuclei could derive from the medieval name Travalius, documented in the Diplomatic Code of Medieval Lombardy in a deed of sale made in Pavia in 1175, possibly through hypocoristics; and a third hypothesis links it simply to the Italian word travaglio ("work", "toil").

V. Blunda, for his part, studies the surname as a Sicilian form of dialectal origin, derived from the word travàgghia, which designated the wooden frame used to immobilise the horse during shoeing. As a surname, it would have arisen as an occupational nickname applied to the blacksmith or to the stable hand specialised in that task.

The surname presents multiple independent stems of origin (ceppi), arisen in different regions without a direct relation between them. Rossoni documents the variant Travaglia in the north of the Milan area, the Varese area, Cavedine in lower Trentino, and the Enna and Messina areas; Travagli between Rovigo and Ferrara; Travaglini in the centre-north, with a concentration in Abruzzo, the Piceno area and Rome; Travaglino in the Alessandria and Naples areas; and Travaglio in Triggiano, in the Bari area.