The first written mention about Zalău, was in the "Gesta Hungarorum", also called the "Chronicle of Anonymous" (probably notary of the King Béla III of Hungary), published around year 1200. According to this source, Zalău settlement would have been there as early as around 900. Later, Zalău is referred to as "Villa Ziloc" in 1220, "Zylac" in 1246, "Zylah" in 1282, "Zyloh" and "oppidum Zylah" in 1318, "Zila" in 1601, "Zilahu" in 1808, "Sziláj" / "Szilágyi" in 1839, "Szilaju" in 1850, and "Zalău" / "Sziláju" / "Walthenberg" in 1854.