The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from "Misa" after the Catholic Mass. The origin and the growth of the old Spanish town, Misamis, was due to the presence of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo which was constructed sometimes the 18th century in order to control the piratical activities originating in the nearby Lanao area.
After the Second World War, Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321 on 16 July 1948. RA 321 also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after a WW-II hero José F. Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José F. Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate. Through City Resolution 251-05, Ozamiz is officially spelled with a "Z" in its last letter rather than with an "S".
