It was established in 1822 as Romanov-Borisoglebsk from two much older towns on opposite sides of the Volga River: Romanov and Borisoglebsk.

[9] Before 1918, the town was called Romanov-Borisoglebsk (Рома́нов-Борисогле́бск); the Bolshevik government of the USSR renamed it Tutayev, after a Red Army officer.

[citation needed] The majority of the population lives on the Borisoglebsk side, on the right bank of the river.

There is no bridge across the Volga in Tutayev, so people have to use a ferry or, alternatively, travel north to Rybinsk or south to Yaroslavl to cross.

Remains of Thoosuchus yakovlevi and Benthosuchus korobkovi were found in the Lower Olenekian deposits of this location.