According to the history of Rohtak District, it derives its name from its headquarters town Rohtak which is said to be a modified version of Rohtashgarh, a name still applied to the ruined sites of the present town. Traditionally, it is named after Raja Rohtash under whom, the city is said to have been built. It is also claimed that the town derives its name from Roherra tree called Rohitaka in Sanskrit language. It is said that before the town came into existence, it was a forest of Rohitaka trees and hence its name became Rohtak. Another legend connects Rohtak with Rohitaka, which is mentioned in Mahabharata.
History of Rohtak District as an administrative unit says that the areas of this district underwent many changes, extending over hundreds of years before the administrative unit emerged in its present form. Under the rule of Akbar, when his minister Todar Mal divided North India into administrative circles, the areas of Rohtak fell within the Sarkars of Delhi. Lying close to the imperial city of Delhi, the tract which now comprises Rohtak district was often granted in military Jagir by the Sultan and Mughal emperors to the nobles of the court. For this reason Rajput, Brahman, Afghan and Baluch chiefs have at different times enjoyed its revenues.
After, the death of Bahadur Shah I (1707 - 1712), the successor of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire began to decline rapidly. As a result, the areas of Rohtak frequently experienced a change of masters. By the treaty of Surjit Arjungaon, signed on December 30th, 1803, Rohtak area along with the other possessions of Sindhia situated to the west of Yamuna River passed to the British rulers and came under the administration of the North-west provinces. It is also mentioned in the history that the British had no intention at that time to hold large territories beyond the Yamuna. Rohtak, Beri and Meham tehsils of present district of Rohtak were given to the Nawab of Dujana. The formation of present Rohtak District began when the gift was abandoned by the Dujana chief.
When Hisar District was created, Beri and Meham-Bhiwani tehsils were included in Hisar and the other portions of the present northern tehsils in Panipat. In 1824, Rohtak District was formed as a separate unit consisting of Gohana, Rohtak, Beri and Bhiwani tehsils. Bahadurgarh territory formed its eastern and Jhajjar its southern boundary. However, the district was abolished in 1841 AD, Gohana going to Panipat and rest of the tehsils to Delhi but in the next year again it was created. Two districts of Rohtak and Jhajjar together with rest of Delhi and Hisar divisions were detached from North-western provinces after 1857 and passed to Punjab on 13th of April, 1858. Rohtak District remained a part of the Hisar division until 1884.
On the abolition of Hisar Division in 1884, Rohtak District was transferred to Delhi division. It consisted of four tehsils namely Rohtak, Gohana, Jhajjar and Sampla. But in April, 1910, Sampla tehsil was abolished and its area was divided between Rohtak and Jhajjar tehsils which had remained attached to Delhi division since 1861 and was added to Rohtak District in September, 1912, after the separation of Delhi Territory from Punjab. The district was then attached to Ambala division. In 1948, Dujana state was merged in Jhajjar tehsil and a new sub-tehsil of Nahar was created.
Thus, Rohtak District was given four Tehsils namely Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar and Gohana with Nahar and Meham as sub-tehsil of Jhajjar and Gohana tehsils respectively. In 1973 Meham sub-tehsil was upgraded as tehsil. Sonipat tehsil was created by bifurcating Rohtak District, and Gohana and Sonipat tehsils were allotted to Sonipat district. One more tehsil, Kosli was created out of Jhajjar tehsil and Nahar sub-tehsil was abolished. In November, 1989 reorganisation of district took place and Gohana tehsil was again attached with Rohtak District of Rewari. In July, 1997, Jhajjar District was created after bifurcating Rohtak district into Rohtak and Jhajjar districts and present Rohtak District consists of Rohtak and Meham Tehsils.
