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Northern Samar is one of the three Samar provinces created on June 19, 1965 by Republic Act No. 4221.

The province is relatively young but has vital economic, social, religious and historical significance.

The town of Catubig was the first Spanish pueblo and cabezeria to evangelize the northeastern region of the Samar island. The cabezeria was later transferred to Palapag in 1605 when the residence of the Cabo de Spiritu Santo was relocated there. The region was then called Ibabao, (roughly the Northern Samar of today). The Sumoroy Rebellion (1605-1650) made Palapag a famous byword in Philippine history.

During the 18th century, Ibabao became the stopover of the Acapulco galleon trade when its abaca, bees wax and other agricultural produce were in demand by Spanish, Mexican, and Peruvian households. Palapag was the Pacific port of call. Capul, by the San Bernardino Strait, was the provisioning call of the galleons which plied between Manila and Mexico

once a year. Formerly known as Abak (after the ancient ruler of Java who brought the first settlers to Ibabao), Capul got its name from the word Acapulco.

The Ibabao residents also figured prominently during the Spanish and American occupation in the Philippines. The Pulahanes continued to fight a guerilla war even after the capture of General Lucban by the American forces in Catubig in 1902.