Tatars
Turkic-speaking peoples across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, with the Volga Tatars as the largest group.
The Tatars are a group of Turkic speaking peoples found across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia who bear the name 'Tatar'.
- largest_group
- Volga Tatars
- population_in_Russia_2010
- 5.3 million
- primary_language
- Tatar language (Kipchak-Volga-Ural group)
- region
- Eastern Europe and Northern Asia
- known_for
- Formation from the Golden Horde and diverse subgroups including Volga, Crimean, and Siberian Tatars
Lore & Background
Initially, the ethnonym Tatar possibly referred to the Tatar confederation, which was eventually incorporated into the Mongol Empire when Genghis Khan unified the various steppe tribes. Historically, the term Tatar (or Tartar) was applied by western cartographers to anyone from the vast Northern and Central Asian landmass then known as Tartary, a term that was falsely conflated with the Mongol Empire. More recently, the term has come to refer more narrowly to related ethnic groups who call themselves Tatars. By far the largest group are the Volga Tatars, native to the Volga-Ural region (Tatarstan and Bashkortostan) of European Russia, who compose 53% of Tatarstan's population. Their language is known as the Tatar language. As of the source, there were an estimated 5.3 million ethnic Tatars in Russia. While speaking languages belonging to different Kipchak sub-groups, genetic studies have shown that the three main groups of Tatars (Volga, Crimean, and Siberian) are apparently unrelated, and thus their formation occurred independently of one another, but it is possible that at least one of the Tatar groups had cultural influence mainly from the times of the Golden Horde. Many noble families in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire had Tatar origins.
Reader's Guide
The largest Tatar populations are the Volga Tatars, native to the Idel-Ural (Volga-Ural) region of European Russia, and the Crimean Tatars of Crimea. Smaller groups of Lipka Tatars and Astrakhan Tatars also live in Europe and the Siberian Tatars in Asia. The modern Tatar language, together with the Bashkir language, forms the Kypchak-Volga-Ural group within the Kipchak languages. There are two Tatar dialects—Central and Western. The Siberian Tatar language is independent of Volga–Ural Tatar. Crimean Tatar is the indigenous language of the Crimean Tatar people; the Kypchak languages closest to Crimean Tatar are Kumyk and Karachay-Balkar, not Kazan Tatar.
Did You Know?
- The form 'Tartar' has its origins in either Latin or French, coming to Western European languages from Turkish and Persian, and the extra 'r' was likely due to an association with Tartarus.
- Some Turkic peoples living within the Russian Empire were named Tatar, though this name was never used for the Yakuts, Chuvashes, Sarts, and some others.
- The Persian word for Tatar is first recorded in the 13th century in reference to the hordes of Genghis Khan and is of unknown origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Tatars?
The Tatars are a family of Turkic-speaking ethnic peoples spread across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia who share a common identity under that name. Rather than being one single nation, they are a collection of related groups with their own regional cultures and histories.
Where does the name 'Tatar' come from?
The term most likely originated with a confederation of steppe tribes that were later folded into the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan. European mapmakers later stretched the label to cover anyone from the broad region they called Tartary, which caused centuries of geographic confusion.
What is the largest Tatar subgroup?
The Volga Tatars, based in the Volga-Ural region, are the biggest branch of the Tatar family. The 2010 Russian census recorded approximately 5.3 million of them living within Russia.
What language do Tatars speak?
Their primary tongue is the Tatar language, which belongs to the Kipchak-Volga-Ural branch of the Turkic language family. Individual subgroups such as the Crimean or Siberian Tatars may use distinct dialects or writing systems.
Why are the Tatars historically significant?
They were central to the rise and legacy of the Golden Horde, one of the major successor states of the Mongol Empire. Their political and cultural reach shaped wide stretches of the steppe world, and their diverse subgroups remain vibrant communities today.
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