The origin of Catral is not certain, existed three hypothesis to explain the origin fron the phonetical point of view.

The first of these hypothesis is the iberian toponymy, which relates to the iberian settlements that existed near Albatera, and were considered as the first settlers in this area. These settlers used words headings such as kal, turla, la to name places and things. The continous evolution of these words and the precedent denomination of the arab" al qatrullat" gradually to the name Catral, taken into account the influence of latin in hispanic.

The second hypothesis, is its latin origin,according to this hyopothesis, is the appearance of the word Catral which was taken from the latin word "castrum altum", which signifies summoning of troops at the time of the roman empire...

The third hypothesis is from the arab origin. tradiotionally it is said thet the origin of Catral comes from the arab, and signify croosbow maker. on the other hand, in the xi century an amerian geographer al-udri mention this town calling it "Al-Qatrullat" (Catral) describing it as rich and luxuriant which could be the colonnade of the "vega baja"(the plains). also the infanta d.juan manuel included the name Catral in his book, the hunter,s book "libro de la caza".

In the middle of the xiii centyury, ended the moslem occupation and for the help and services provided to the conquerer, this town was rewarded wiht lands and gifts from orihuela by the order of santiago and according to agreements between the lords and the military.Catral and callosa was conceded in 1255, in 1264 Alfonso X reintergrated them in his crown in exchange of santiaguistas, Toledo and Totana.

At the end of the XIII and the beginning of the XIV Century, Catral was almost an inheritance by the lords D. Lopez Diaz and Diego Lopez de Haro (they were brothers) which was later taken away by Sancho VI and placed under the auspices of the lord of aragones D. Jordan Aleman as a compensation.

In octuber 1358 was a sad day for the population of Catral for the havoc caused by the castillan troops (based in murcia) they carried out a calculated massive destruction of the town, Catral was in ruins.

In 1741 Al-Qatrullat, Cafra, Castral and Catral was declared the royal villa by Philip V (Felipe V) the economic cost of the adquisition of the title royal villa in favor of the crown was elevated by the 152 neighbours of Catral at 12.499 pounds. lateron Catral fought and got her self autonomy from Orihuela.

On the 21 of march 1829, Catral and the other towns in the Vega Baja del Segura witnessed voilent earthquakes but no human casualties. This day, each year has been marked by festivities, such as procession in the street, singing and dancing with ochestra band giving thanks to San Emigdio (a saint advocate against earthquake) for its protection in the 1829 earthquake and the comemoration of this day.

The principal building with religious character in Catral is the parish church, St. John which was renovated in the middle of the XVIII century in a neoclasical model. Other buildings and works of religious character are the Virgin Mary, the seat of the local patronage which dated at the middle of the XVI Century with a magnificient art of work at the front view typically designed by the valencian artists. the chapel was formally a chamber of the St. Hospětal Villa. with time it has been renovated at the end of the XVIII century following different models such as the baroque style and the neoclassical. The chapel of St. Agnes (Santa Agueda) one of the oldest dated as far back as the XVII Century.

One of the important richness of Catral is the irrigated region. in recent decades Catral have experience a rapid growth of industries such as the shoe, leather, textile, confection, construction, wood, furnitures, ceramic and the agrarian sector etc. creating thousands of jobs. Today Catral is evolving towards the residential tourism as well as the service sector.