The origins of this song are not clear. The following is mostly from James J. Fuld, "The Book of World-Famous Music," pp. 570-571.

"Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-der-E" by Henry J. Sayers, September, 1891, on the front cover refers to the minstrel farce comedy, "Tuxedo." Sayers, who was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1854, managed minstrel shows and also was an Army bandmaster, he died in NYC in 1932.

Sayers wrote the song after visiting Babe Connors' "notorious cabaret" in St. Louis, but it did not become popular until Lottie Collins had introduced it in England (sheet music 1892).

In a court case, Judge Patterson held that the music and words of the chorus were not original but the first two verses were (Sayers vs. Sigmund Spaeth, 1932). The earlier appearances of the music do not appear in the decision, but several possible sources are indicated in the files: "Deutschlands Liederschatz," with a song "Storchlied," contains a composition entitled "Tarara Bumtara," without music, pub. 1809, but with music for "Ta rada Boom di E."
Unfortunately, these earlier sources have not been found. End quoted entry.

St. Louis had a large German colony, and the earlier pieces from Germany could have been known rather widely. It is not known for certain if performers at Babe Connors used the song before Sayers wrote his copyright version, but if the melody had been brought to St. Louis, performers like 'Mama Lou' could have revised it to their needs.

In 1891, almost immediately following Sayers publication, several folios of sheet music were published; "Boom-Ta-Ra!," 1891, Alexander Spencer; "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay!," 1891, A. A. Asher and Morton; 1892, Thornton and Loraine.