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The first historical mention concerning Sfântu Gheorghe was made on the Genoese Visconti map, where the locality is named San Giorgio, name also attested on the Castaldo and Ortelius Mercator maps in XVI-XVII.


The choice of the toponym for the Medieval settlement demonstrates that Sfântu Gheorghe name took roots in Dobrudja due to the Christian legend about the Roman soldier beheaded in Cappadocia. Under the ottoman domination the name has been changed into Cadârlez, which sends to a similar feast (vegetation and animals rebirth) from the Turkish ethnography. It's about the Turkish feast Hîdîrlez, which has the role both in Moslem and Christian traditions. The Turkish denomination remained until 1909.


Administratively, Cadârlez belonged to Caraorman commune, in the beginning the population occupying also Buhaz sand bank, from the southern part of Sfântu Gheorghe branch.

The settlement was mainly populated by Russian fishermen politically or religiously oppressed who found a refuge in this area in XVIII century. First Romanians (from Transylvania) settled down at the beginning of XIX century. After 1841, Germans came in Dobrudja from the Russian colonies settled down here too.

The main occupation of the inhabitants was fishing. Since 1820, the fishermen from Sfântu Gheorghe began to trade the fish, initially through the Greek merchants and subsequently through direct relationship with the Romanian merchants.

The documents tell about the conflict between the fishermen and the Greek Iani Melanos who owned, in the XIX century, 3 fisheries and the attempts of the fishermen to constitute an association led by Spirea Gramovschi.

The short-story writer V. Crăsescu, who lived more time between the fishermen, wrote: "All the village was a fishery which master was Iani Melanos. The settlement had a triangular shape, which streets were straight, large and with alder-trees planted on the margins. The houses were all alike, high, simple and clean; everywhere the order and fraternity was reigning. The luxury of the village women was remarkable.

The village church was built in 1820. It burned in 1880 and it was rebuilt in the same year. In 1896 a new fire determined its destruction, but it was rebuilt again.

In 1879, the Post Office was founded to serve the slight post. The runs were done with carioles and coaches following the route Sfântu Gheorghe - Sulina. After 1900, the post will be transported on the Danube with boats and motorboats. In 1892, a limited telegraph service was introduced. In 1894 the telephone began to be used. Since 1904, the locality possesses a school.