According to E. Rossoni, the surnames Voltolina and Voltolini present a mainly northern diffusion. Voltolina is typically Venetan, above all in the province of Venice, while Voltolini is more associated with the Trentino area, although both are also found in regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany and Lazio. In their origin, both surnames would mean "of the Valtellina", since the region of the Valtellina was formerly known as Voltolina, a denomination documented even in writings of Leonardo da Vinci. However, Rossoni notes other possible interpretations: Voltolina could derive from the place name Volto di Rosolina (Rovigo), or else from nicknames related to the voltolino, a small marsh bird. As for Voltolini, it could also have an occupational origin, alluding to one who repaired or changed the covering of roofs, by analogy with the behaviour of this bird that stirs pebbles in search of food.

For his part, F. De Laurentiis interprets the surname —especially in the Polesine area— as derived from the place name Volto di Rosolina (province of Rovigo), thus reinforcing the toponymic hypothesis. He adds that, in some cases, it may also come from nicknames linked to the voltolino, a marsh bird of dark colour and nocturnal habits, which coincides with the interpretative line based on descriptive nicknames.