It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.

It was species description described in 1897 by French zoologist Édouard Louis Trouessart.

"[3] Its species name "major" is of Middle English origin, meaning "greater."

Trouessart likely chose this name because Dobson wrote that it was similar to the little free-tailed bat, but "considerably larger.

[3] In writing about the species, Dobson described it as similar in appearance to the little free-tailed bat.