The earliest mention of the ethnonym is argued to be in 1550 and 1561 when in a charter is recorded certain Martin Bunavacz in Baranja. The earliest mention in Bačka is from 1622 when was recorded "parochia detta Bunieuzi nell' arcivescovato Colociense". One of the first mentions of the ethnonym is by Bishop of Senj, Martin Brajković, in 1702 whose recorded folk tradition knew for the existence of five ethnic identities which constitute the population of Lika and Krbava, one of them being Catholic Vlachs also known as Bunjevci ("Valachi Bunyevacz"). In 1712/1714 census of Lika and Krbava was recorded only one "Bunieuacz" (Vid Modrich), however the military government usually used alternative term "Valachi Catolici", while Luigi Ferdinando Marsili called them "Meerkroaten" (Littoral Croats). Alberto Fortis in "Viaggio in Dalmazia" (1778, English edition) describing the Velebit ("Montagne della Morlacca") recorded that the population was different from the earlier and called themselves as Bunjevci because they came from area of Buna in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1828 writing by Colonel Ivan Murgić probably had the last original testimony of Lika-Primorje Bunjevci about their traditional identity, in which they said to be "We are hardworking brothers Bunjevci", while regarding (Catholic) confession always as "I am true Bunjevac". A more recent 1980 testimony from Baja, Hungary considered they came from Albania.