According to several anthropologists, the early settlers in this cluster of Islands at the heart of Davao Gulf, called Samal Islands, were indigenous people coming from the northern and eastern coasts of the undivided Davao Province and who largely came from the same ethno-linguistic line of the Mansakas and the Mandayas which make up of what is now as the Sama tribe. Hence, it became host to other indigenous groups and Muslims migrants who originally found their place in central Davao and who later migrated to Samal Islands. Thus, the name Samal was derived from this tribe.

On July 8, 1948, the District Municipality of Samal Islands was create into a regular Municipality by virtue of Executive Order 151 issued by the late President Elpidio Quirino. Almost five years later, he issued another measure, Executive Order No. 596, dated May 28, 1953 which paved the way for the creation of the daughter Municipality of Babak. Soon after the old Province of Davao was created into three (3) Provinces, the Southern portion of Samal Islands was established as the Municipality of Kaputian pursuant to Republic Act 4745 dated July 18, 1966 as issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, leaving the mother Municipality, retaining its original name, with fifteen (15) Barangays.