Sitangkai is like other municipalities of Tawi-Tawi were under the Province of Sulu before its creation.Historically, the island of Sitangkai was known as “Saluru”, a borrowed term from Malay which means “entire” because of its strategic location where in during high tide, current from all corners runs toward the island.Sitangkai has its legendary origin named after the beautiful Sama teenager, the only and lovely daughter of a certain Panglima who died untimely and was buried in the land of Saluru. The girl is popularly known by her penname “Tangkai” from Sinama word “atangkai-tangkai” because of her good looking neck which was proportional to her vital statistics. A visit to her graveyard is a belief and tradition among Sama people as a token in showing their love. It was said that every time Panglima passes by, relatives and friends usually greet him and asks, “Where are you going?” Panglima would answer, to visit the grave of “Tangkai”. In 1900, “Tangkai became the word “Saluru”.

During the early years of 1903, the island became popularly known as “Sitankan” and later in 1918 named “Sitangki”. It was named after a Chinese National by the name “Tang Kay” who owned a water tank, which in native dialect is called “tangkih”. In 1939, this peaceful island became known as “SiTangkai”. This was corrected by a Chinese Businessman into “SyTangkai” in 1948. Today it is known as “Sitangkai.