According to local legends, the name is derived from a battle won by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur over Raja Sita Nand of Athgarhia.

However, there was no known king by the name Ala-ud-din at the time, meaning the title of the Sultan must be wrong for the date to be correct.

[2] Grand Trunk Road passes through the district; it is one of Asia's major trading routes which back at least 2500 years.

In the 18th century, Fatehpur district was part of the subah of Korah and was under the rule of the Wazir of Awadh.

A 1764 treaty between the British East India Company and the Nawab turned Korah over to the Emperor in Delhi.

In an 1801 treaty, the Nawab reconveyed it to the East India Company in return for the defense of his country.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the district rebelled against the rule of the East India Company in June.

These sub-districts are further divided into thirteen development blocks:Fatehpur district includes several towns which are culturally significant.

It includes numerous historic structures and sites including Paina Quila (fort), Ghazipur Quila (fort; now a police station), Dargah (tomb), Tuglaki Masjid (mosque), and Murchaura (battlefield).

Bhitaura is situated on the bank of the Ganges where the river flows to the north; this is significant to the Hindu religion.

Fatehpur is connected to other parts of Uttar Pradesh and India by national and state highways.