First settlemenets were established when the Romans built a connecting road through the Gurk valley to Salzburg. Between 1050 and 1065 a settlement at the Zammelsberg (Zumoltiperg) arose due to immigration from Bavaria.
After the formation of the local municipality in 1850, the cadastral municipalities of Thurnhof and Zweinitz were annexed to Weitensfeld in 1871. From 1973 onwards, Weitensfeld became part of the large municipality of Weitensfeld-Flattnitz. After a referendum, the municipalities of Deutsch-Griffen, Glödnitz and Weitensfeld became independent again in 1991. A part of Flattnitz initially remained with Weitensfeld, but was separated with effect from 1 January 1994 and annexed to the municipality of Glödnitz. Since January 1, 1995, the municipality has been called Weitensfeld im Gurktal.