The current territory of Tay was home to the
Wendat towns of Teanaostataé (St. Louis), and Taenhatentaron (St. Ignace). Together with the nearby town of Teanaustayé (St. Joseph) in nearby
Hillsdale they were destroyed by the
Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) in 1648–1649. During this warfare, the
Jesuits Jean de Brébeuf and
Gabriel Lalemant were killed at Taenhatentaron. Originally the township was incorporated part of Tiny and Tay United Townships on January 1, 1851, but became a separate township on January 4, 1869. The Village of Victoria Harbour separated from Tay Township on December 31, 1910, followed by the Village of Port McNicoll on April 12, 1917. In 1965, Tay Township lost more territory when Midland Town annexed parts of it. On January 1, 1994, under countywide municipal restructuring, the Villages of Port McNicoll and Victoria Harbour were amalgamated with Tay, while at the same time, Tay Township lost a portion to the newly formed Severn Township. ==Communities==