There are also the versions of Paulino Nogueira and João Brigido, who suggest, respectively, çoô-ará and ciri-ará, that are "truly hunting time" and "white crab".

The Potiguars made their first contacts with the European world by the trade of pau-brasil wood with the French and Spanish people.

The region of the Ryo Seara was occupied because the land was good for agriculture, and some farming and cattle raising took place.

By the 18th century there were many sesmarias (special Portuguese concession of lands for agriculture and cattle development) completely dividing the region with the biggest or the smallest utility.

The first mills of Ceará-Mirim emerged after 1840, but by 1858, when the transference of the headquarters occurred, there were remarkable industrial and livestock developments.