According to E. Rossoni, the surname Zuccon derives —directly or through diminutive forms— from nicknames linked to the word zucca ("pumpkin"), used in a figurative sense to indicate the head. This type of nickname could allude both to physical traits and, in some cases, to personal characteristics. The use of the term is documented already in 1376 in a deed of Gromo (Bergamo), which confirms its antiquity. In addition, in certain cases, a possible toponymic derivation from place names such as Zuccone, also in the Bergamo area, is not ruled out.

For his part, F. De Laurentiis interprets the surname as a derivative —in many cases with a figurative and derogatory value— of Zucchi, highlighting its high frequency in Veneto. This explanation reinforces the nickname origin of the surname, linked to the popular use of terms related to zucca to characterise persons.