The district derives its name from its headquarters town Rohtak which is said to be a correction of Rohtashgarh, a name still applied to the ruined sites (also called Khokhrakot) of two older sites, one lying immediately north of the present town and other about 5 km towards the east. Traditionally, it is named after Raja Rohtash in whose days city is said to have been built. It is also claimed that the town derives its name from the Roherra (Tacoma undulate) tree called Rohitaka in Sanskrit. It is said that before the town came into existence it was the site of a forest of Rohitaka trees and hence ita name became Rohtak. Another version connects Rohtak with Rohitaka, which is mentioned in mahabharat in connection with campaign of Nakula, the Pandav warrior.