An earlier type of municipality (Dutch: grietenij) of the same name existed from 1500 until 1984.

Wymbritseradeel was formed from the division of the medieval district of Waghenbrugghe.

From 1625 until the introduction of the municipal law in 1851, the grietman of Wymbritseradeel lived in the stins of Epemastate in IJsbrechtum (West Frisian: Ysbrechtum).

The town of IJlst (West Frisian: Drylts) was the administrative seat.

The former municipality had 28 official districts (Dutch: kernen): The municipality also contained the following hamlets: Media related to Wymbritseradiel at Wikimedia Commons