[1] In 1522 Spanish troops arrived and founded the current city, giving it the name Gueixolotitlan.

When the first Roman Catholic monks arrived to evangelize the local population, they selected St. Paul the Apostle (San Pablo, in Spanish) as the patron saint of the village and erected a church by the same name.

The church is notable for a large number of 16th-century and other colonial-era santos, statues of the saints.

[3] It was through the influence of the Catholic Church that the town arrived at its present name San Pablo Huitzo.

[1] Archaeological sites in the area consist of several tombs, walls, and similar Zapotec structures.