E. De Felice explains that this surname was formed from the medieval auspicious name Tuttobène, with the sense of "may you have all the good possible", and relates it to the analogous type Ognibene. He notes its presence in Sicily, though without high frequency.

F. Miranda characterises it as a typically Sicilian surname, also diffused in other regions of Italy such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Lazio, Tuscany and Marche. Within Sicily, he documents it in almost all the provinces, with a presence especially in the Catania area —in localities such as Aci Castello, Tremestieri Etneo, Mascali and Fiumefreddo di Sicilia—, in the Palermo area —in Altavilla Milicia, among others— and in the Caltanissetta area. Miranda also records it in the Enna area, in localities such as Agira, Leonforte, Valguarnera Caropepe, Aidone, Assoro, Nicosia and Catenanuova. As for the origin, he agrees with De Felice that it is the transformation into a surname of a medieval auspicious personal name, though he specifies the meaning as "may all go well for you", that is, a wish of well-being and serenity attributed to the newborn.