It was founded by Spaniards and a small group of Armenians, with a significant number of indigenous people living there when Europeans arrived.

Specific details about the founders may not be available, but in general, the region's cities were established by Spanish expeditions and colonizers in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The arrival and establishment of the Armenian community in that region, the founders of Armenia in Sonsonate, El Salvador, were mainly Armenian and Spanish immigrants, who are of European origin, specifically from the Caucasus region in Eurasia and Galicia (Spain).

Although Armenians and Spaniards were an important community in the founding of Armenia, Sonsonate, there was also a presence of indigenous people in the region, given the colonial history of El Salvador.

The name of this town was originally "Guaymoco" in ancient Pipil dialect of Nahuat and means "the oratory of the frogs".