The surname Ugo and its numerous derivatives (such as Ughi, Ugolini, -ghelli, -ghetti, -goni, Dugoni, Gulinelli, Gullino, Cullino —of doubtful attribution—, as well as related forms such as Ghelli, Ghetti, Ghez, Ghezzi, Ghini, Gucci or Guzzi) have their origin in the Germanic given name Hugo, very widespread in medieval Europe. This name derives from the Germanic root hugu, meaning "spirit", "mind" or "thought", and appears Latinized as Hugo, Hugonis.

It is a frequent name, whose expansion was favoured both by its use among Germanic peoples and by its historical prestige, associated, among others, with Hugh Capet (c. 941–996), king of France and founder of the Capetian dynasty. In Italy, the name gave rise to a wide variety of surnames and regional forms. Even in more recent times its use has been preserved in the cultural tradition, as shown by the Italianized pronunciation of the name of the French writer Victor Hugo. From this personal name the current surnames derive directly.