Kota Marudu is originally named as Bandau which used until 1974. According to the legend, Bandau is a derivative of the word 'Mondou' from the [[Rungus language|Rungus dialect]] which means "the head (leader) of all the [[beastMammal|beasts]]s". Mondou was once believed to have been found by Aki Rungsud in the area along the Bandau River. The town was renamed 'Kota Marudu' after a fort built by local warrior named Sharif Usman at Marudu Bay to protect the area from the [[British North Borneo]] colonial authorities, where he was considered by the latter as a [[piracy|pirate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabah.gov.my/pd.km/index.php/profil-daerah/latar-belakang-daerah|title=Latar Belakang Daerah|language=Malay|publisher=Kota Marudu District Office|accessdate=7 November 2017|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20171107140033/http://www.sabah.gov.my/pd.km/index.php/profil-daerah/latar-belakang-daerah|archivedate=7 November 2017|deadurl=yes}}</ref>
