Bua Yai dates back to the frontier town called Dan Nok (ด่านนอก). The center of the town was Ban Nong Lang Yai. In 1868, it was upgraded to Dan Nok District and the town center was moved to Ban Nong Lang Noi. The district office was moved again to Ban Bua Yai in 1905, and the district was renamed accordingly. The office was three kilometers from the Bua Yai railway junction. The presence of the railway spurred development of the village Ban Fat Fueay which became the new site of the district office in 1951.