The origin of the Municipality of Calabanga is unfolded from the legends and fables of the old generation. In 1578 when the head Mission of Quipayo was established, Calabanga was only a visita or barrio. At that time, the place was covered with vast forests and swamps and an abundance of wildlife such as monkeys, wild chickens and forest lizards. Some say Calabanga derived its name from the Bicol word "Calabangan", the plural term of "labang" or "litag", a kind of snare for catching wild animals. Another legend says that Calabanga originated from the word "Calagbangan," meaning the wide, long and straight street spanning from the church through the Poblacion, east to west, called locally as "Calabaan" or "Calacbangan".

Calabanga became a town with 400 tributes. On July 15, 1749, it was separated from Quipayo by virtue of the approval of Don Fray Joan de Arechera, Bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia of the Commissary of the King, in the petition signed and filed by 37 Calabangueños on April 28, 1749 for the town to be conveniently administered.

There were two visitas- Visita de Cagapad and Visita de Hinarijan and 12 barrios. The barrios were San Antonio, San Vicente, Sta Catalina, Nuestra Señora de Salud, San Lucas, San Miguel, Sta. Isabel, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, San Roque, San Pablo, San Jose (now Balongay) and Belen.

Present in the official seal of the municipality are the three (3) stars representing Luzon, where the Bicol Region is, Visayas and Mindanao with an eagle in the center. The 48 stars represent the 48 barangays of Calabanga. Also indicated in the seal is the slope of fertile Mount Isarog where some of the barangays of the municipality are located. The four main products/industries of the municipality are also found in the seal represented by coconut, coffee & abaca, rice and fish. Still on the center half represents the rich coastal fishery resources of the municipality in San Miguel Bay and the left center-half represents the municipality's vast irrigated lowlands of rice.