History of Kendujhar District is a historical account which states the growth and development of this Indian district since the period when it was a princely state. The entire part of Kendujhar was a princely state prior to its merging with the eastern Indian state of Odisha. However, the earliest historical episodes of Kendujhar District are shrouded in mystery. Initially, this district was referred to as Keonjhar District and it was associated to the ancient Khijinga territory, which possessed its headquarters at Khijinga Kota. During the 12th century A.D., Kendujhar was made into a separate state, which was then administered by Jyoti Bhanja. At that point of time, this district consisted only of the northern portion of the current district, before Jyoti Bhanja was the ruler of this area. The southern half of Kendujhar District was governed by King Govinda Bhanja during the 15th century. Under his regime, Kendujhar was extended to Sukinda from Singhbhum in the north and till the border regions of Angul, Pallahara and Bonai from Mayurbhanj in the east.

Two areas of Jujhpada and Tillo were bought from the Zamindari of Kantajhuri during the reign of Pratap Balabhadra Bhanja, who ruled from 1764 to 1972 A.D. Tillo and Jujhpada were the portions of Kendujhar which had been granted by the East India Company to Raja Janardan Bhanja in the year 1804. Thereafter, this region did not undergo anymore transformations prior to its association with the Province of Odisha. However, just after merging Kendujhar with Odisha, Jujhpada and Tillo were shifted to the districts of Cuttack and Baleshwar respectively. Several villages known as 'Ambo group' were added under the jurisdiction of Kendujhar district. The 'Bhuyans' and the 'Juangs' are the regional tribes dwelling in this region which are existent since historic times and they have asserted that they are amongst the oldest tribes of the world. On 1st January, 1948, all the feudatory states were officially merged with Odisha, Soon after that, Keonhjar's name was altered to the modern-day name of 'Kendujhar'.

Kendujhar has been ruled by rulers of Bhanja Dynasty whose names have been mentioned below.

Shri Jagannath Bhanja	(1688-1700)
Shri Raghunath Bhanja	(1700-1719)
Shri Gopinath Bhanja	(1719-1736)
Shri Narasingha Narayan Bhanja	(1736-1757)
Shri Dhaneshwar Narayan Bhanja	(1757-1758)
Shri Jagateshwar Narayan Bhanja	(758-1762)
Shri Pratap Balabhadra Bhanja	(1764-1792 / 1762-1797)
Shri Janardan Bhanja	(1794-1825 / 1797-1832)
Shri Gadadhar Narayan Bhanja Deo	(1825-1861 / 1832-1861)
Shri Dhanurjay Narayan Bhanja Deo	(1861-1905)
Shri Gopinath Narayan Bhanja Deo	(1905-1926)