Its name is derived from a Slavic word, ruda, meaning "iron ore", originally being known as Rudna in 14th century documents.

During the Late Middle Ages, the Transylvanian Saxon-inhabited village was sacked by the Mongols during their invasion of the Kingdom of Hungary.

At the start of the Hungarian–Romanian War of 1918–1919, the locality passed under Romanian administration; after the Treaty of Trianon of 1920, it became part of the Kingdom of Romania.

In August 1940, under the auspices of Nazi Germany, which imposed the Second Vienna Award, Hungary retook the territory of Northern Transylvania (which included Rodna) from Romania.

Towards the end of World War II, however, the commune was taken back from Hungarian and German troops by Romanian and Soviet forces in October 1944, and reverted to Năsăud County.