Some derives from ŕnes, a dialectal name of the anice plant(Pimpinella anisum). Others believe it orginates from the name of John (from the Latin Iohannes, adaptation of the Hebrew name Yohanan, "God had mercy"). 

The surname is widespread in the Trentini areas of Pergine, Civezzano, Piné.

There are 280 people in Italy with the Anesi surname. Some variants include:
ANES, ANESIN, ANESINI, ANNES, ANNESI, ANNESIN, DEANESI DE ANESI.