The municipality of Urleben, at that time spelled Urislebo or Urisleiben, is mentioned in a number of documents. The oldest preserved document dates back to the year 786.

The village of Großurleben is the older of the two. Urleben, the name means hereditary farm or property of a man named Uris or Urns. Place-name experts gave the explanation. Großurleben is located 190 meters above sea level. At the northern edge of the village flows the Seltenrain, which comes from the Sundhäuser and Kirchheilinger Flur and is also called Urleber Bach. The area around Großurleben is hilly. To the north of the village the Finkenberg rises gently.

Kleinurleben was first mentioned in a document later, in 1289. In the 16th century, the old landgrave's road passed by Kleinurleben, and many a high lord has passed through the village over the centuries. The huge chestnut trees, which are located in the churchyard of Kleinurleben, are protected as natural monuments.

Until the 14th century the villages Großurleben and Kleinurleben were called only Urleben. Later they were two politically independent municipalities, which were merged into one municipality again in 1974.

The villages, which are only a short distance apart, have much in common. They are located in a flat valley, which is interrupted by the Mittelberg. The mountain church of St. Maria, visible from afar, is located on the Kirchberg. It was called "Our dear women" before the Reformation. In this church there are copies of paintings from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger. The originals can be seen today in Friedenstein Castle in Gotha, after they were stolen from the Urleben church in the 1990s.

In addition to some smaller craft and service businesses, there is also a pig fattening plant and a dairy farm in Urleben.