It was created out of the earlier Hoxne rural sanitary district.

[1] It was named after the historic hundred of Hoxne, whose boundaries it closely matched.

The hundred, in turn, took its name from the village of Hoxne.

Parishes which would be transferred to Hartismere RD: Athelington, Bedfield, Bedingfield, Brundish, Denham, Fressingfield, Horham, Hoxne, Laxfield, Mendham, Metfield, Monk Soham, Southolt, Stradbroke, Syleham, Tannington, Weybread, Wilby, Wingfield, Worlingworth.

Transferred to Blyth RD: Badingham, Dennington, Saxtead