The name Rudozem is a compound word made up of Bulgarianruda (руда) meaning "ore"; and the root zem (зем) meaning "land". It refers to the wealth of the area in mineral resources. Its former name is Palas. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, it was part of the Ottoman İskeçesanjak in Edirne vilayet between 1867 and 1912.