SETTLER (5 letters) The term 'Early Resident' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: PIONEER (7 letters) and SETTLER (5 letters). A PIONEER is someone who is among the first to explore or settle a new area, while a SETTLER is someone who establishes permanent residence in a new area. Pioneers and Settlers are often associated with the colonization of the Americas, as they were among the first Europeans to explore and settle the continent.