The district was originally named Uthai Yai, but was renamed Uthai in 1916. Before the
Ayutthaya kingdom was conquered by Burmese troops in 1767, Phraya Wachira Prakan (the later king
Taksin) led his small group of soldiers against the Burmese troops to the east. He passed the Burmese troops and arrived at the territory in the morning. Then he named this area
Uthai, which mean 'risen sun'. ==Geography==