 French historian and archivist Paul Raymond (1833–1878) recorded the existence in Sarpourenx of an "" (a small, independent parish operated for the profit of an influential local), administered by the viscounts of Béarn.The name "Sarpourenx" is also historically attested in the variant forms "Sarporencx" (1385 Béarn census), "Sarporencxs", and "Sarporenxs" (from the 1538 and 1546 redistrictings of Béarn, respectively).Sarpourenx is located in the historic former province of Béarn, on the left bank of the river Gave de Pau.