It was named after the ancient Hundred of Thingoe ("thing-hoe" – "assembly-mound") and administered from Bury St Edmunds, which it surrounded.

Thingoe Rural District was formed under the Local Government Act 1894.

On 1 April 1935 the parish of Depden was transferred to the Clare Rural District.

On the same date the district was enlarged by the transfer of the civil parishes of Barnham, Barningham, Coney Weston, Euston, Fakenham Magna, Hepworth, Honington, Hopton, Knettishall, Market Weston, Sapiston, and Thelnetham from the disbanded Brandon Rural District.

[1] The district was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972.