'''HISTORY:''' According to the authorities and scholars of Negros Occidental who conducted research at the Spanish archives, Pontevedra, which is undoubtly an Iberian name, was taken from that beautiful place in the Galicia Region of Spain and brought to the province's shores by the Spanish colonizers w2ho wanted to be reminded of their land of birth and their love ones left behind. Some of the decide to stay and made it their secind home, bringing with them some of their rich Spanish and European cultures, influence, and most importantly, the Christian religion. By virtue of a Spanish decree, Pontevedra was declared a pueblo in 1856.
But long before the Spaniard cam, there are already some settlements and the place was already called Marayo, an old Ilonggo or Karay-a term for a faraway place, as viewed from the neighboring island of Guimaras and Panay.