The early English explorer John Lawson included them in the larger eastern-Siouan confederacy, which he called "the Esaw Nation.

[1] In 1670, German explorer John Lederer encountered the Cheraw further east, possibly along the Yadkin River in central North Carolina.

Spanish explorer De Soto likely passed through Cheraw towns, especially Joara located in present-day western North Carolina in 1540.

[citation needed] In 1670, John Lederer, departing from Fort Henry in Virginia Colony,[1] explored deep into North Carolina and described a large town he called "Sara", in the mountains that "receive from the Spaniards the name of Suala".

[citation needed] James Needham and Gabriel Archer also explored the entire area from Fort Henry in 1671, and described this town as "Sarrah.

[1] In 1710, due to attacks by the Seneca[9] of the Haudenosaunee from the north, the Cheraw moved southeast and joined the Keyauwee Indians tribe.

[1] The Cheraw were recorded in The Journal of Barnwell as maintaining a village on the east bank of the upper branches of the Pee Dee River circa the Tuscarora War in 1712.

[citation needed] Historian Alan Gallay has speculated that the Saura and Saxapahaw people deserted Barnwell's army because their villages were likely to be attacked by the Tuscarora in vengeance for assisting colonizers in the war.

[10] In 1715, Cheraw warriors joined other Southeastern tribes in the Yamasee War to fight against European enslavement of Indians, mistreatment, and encroachment on their territory.

He noted in his writing that the Saura had been attacked and nearly destroyed by the Seneca 30 years before, who had been raiding peoples on the frontier from their home in present-day New York.

In 1755, the Cheraw were persuaded by colonizer James Glen to join the Waccamaw, Pedee, and Catawba, led by King Haigler.

[6] They merged into the Catawba over time, and ethnographer John Reed Swanton wrote that "a part are undoubtedly represented among the Siouan Indians of Lumber River.

[5] In 1715, 510 Cheraw were recorded; however, ethnographer James Mooney believed this estimate was too high and including Keyauwee people.

[1] In 1835, Cheraw descendants, who had been absorbed into the Catawba tribe,[14] were classified as "free people of color" in local records.

Located in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, South Stokes High School's team mascot name honors the Native American Indian Saura tribe.