Surigao's history dates back centuries. In 1538, the eastern coast of Mindanao which included the present province of Surigao del Norte was visited by a Portuguese explorer Francisco de Castro, who found the place inhabited by the Caraga tribe who were believed to be of Visayan origin. The people are migrants from the Visayas, notably Cebu, but indigenous tribes of the Mamanwa and Manobo strains reside here.

Five years later, a Spaniard Ruy Lopez de Villalobos landed in the same region, His navigator, Bernardo de la Torre, named it "Cesaria Caroli" in honor of the reigning Spanish Monarch, Carlos V. The name however, never persisted since the Spaniards preferred to name the area "Caraga" after its chief inhabitants.

The Jesuit Missionaries in 1597 tried to evangelize the people of Butuan (Agusan) and Caraga (Surigao), with much difficulty and intermittent success. They were followed in 1622 by the Augustinian Recollects who established parishes in Tandag and Bislig in 1642. The ancient district of Caraga, which was established in 1609 comprised all of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the Northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental.

The Recollects Stayed until 1875, then secular priests took over, followed by the Benedictine Monks from 1893 to 1908.
In 1880, six military districts were established in Mindanao. Surigao and Agusan, including the territory lying between Butuan and Caraga Bays, formed the third district called the East district which was changed in 1870 to "Distrito de Surigao".
By the end of the Spanish rule in 1897, the two Agusan provinces had been organized as a single politico-military comandancia named "Butuan", within the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao. In 1901, this comandancia became a sub-province of Surigao, and in 1907, Agusan became a separate province.
It was on June 19, 1960, through Republic Act 2766 that province was divided to form Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte. There are many versions regarding the meaning of Surigao. Like Sulo, which means current or Sulog, Surigao probably came from the Spanish word Surgir, meaning swift water or current. By the end of the Spanish rule in 1897, the two Agusan provinces had been organized as a single politico-military comandancia named "Butuan", within the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao.

On May 15, 1901, a civil government was established in the province of Surigao. Prudencio Garcia, Sr. was appointed Civil Governor and Roman Vasquez as the Municipal President of the town of Surigao.

The territorial expanse of the Surigao Province was further reduced in 1911 when the politico-military commandancia of Butuan, then a sub-province of Surigao was created into a separate province of Agusan with Butuan as its capital. On May 23, 1942, the Japanese forces under Colonel Yoshie arrived in Surigao from Butuan. They formally took control of the town on May 28, 1942 under Lt. Ichichara. Liberation from the Japanese rule dawned on September 9, 1944.

American planes started their campaign by bombing the town in the early morning. It was followed by a strafing of all Japanese warships docked at the Surigao wharf, which came to transport fresh troops and supplies to their forces in Leyte. No less than fifty warships were sunk by the raiding American bomber planes. After the attack, not a single Japanese ship was seen afloat.

On April 12, 1945, peace and democracy completely reigned in Surigao and the whole province. It was during the liberation period that Surigao experienced an economic boom. This was brought about by the operation of the Mindanao Mother Lode Mines, Inc., extracting gold in Barrio Mabuhay. The operation attracted people from the neighboring towns resulting in the phenomenal growth of population. Such a transition caused the conversion of some of her barrios into towns. Barrio Malimono, a fishing barrio on the west became a municipality on July 31, 1956 by virtue of Executive Order No. 195.

Barrio Anao-aon, another fishing village, became a municipality on May 24, 1957 as per Executive Order No. 249. Likewise, Sison, an agricultural barrio, became a municipality on September 15, 1959 per Executive Order No. 357. Barrios near the newly created municipalities were relinquished respectively. On September 18, 1960, pursuant to the Republic Act 2736 dated June 19, 1960, the province of Surigao was divided into Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. The town of Surigao became a city on August 30, 1970 pursuant to RA 6134. Atty. Pedro R. Espina became the first City Mayor.