The area of Buton, has since long been the homeland of the Miana Wolio people. At the end of the 13th century, this area was presumably visited by four people, named Sipanjonga, Sitamanoja, Simalui, and Sijawangkati, along with Sibatara and the princes of Wakaa-kaa. The first four were named Mia Patamiana . They landed on Kalampa Island.

Sipanjonga and Simalui came from Johor. Then they dispersed and stayed in the surroundings of what is now Bau-Bau. Sipanjonga married the younger sister of Simalui, whose names was Sibaana. Their descendants are the Wolio people, and Bau-bau became the seat of the Buton Kingdom.

The Muna people are believed to be descendants of sailors from Sawerigading , in Luwu, South Sulawesi, who drifted ashore. They stayed there and became the native people, know as the Wamelai.

Another version has it that the son of king of Majapahit, named Zulzaman, was found under supranatural conditions in a piece of bamboo, by La Balano. Zulzaman then married the daughter of the king of Luwu. Their descendants became the first king of Muna.

Apart of those three tribes mentioned, there are also new settlers such as the Bugis, Makasarese, Sangihe, Ambonese, Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese and Torajans.