Tatars

The Tatars (/ˈtɑː.tərz/, TAH-tərz) are a group of Turkic speaking peoples found across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.

Initially, the name Tatar may have come from the Tatar confederation. This group became part of the Mongol Empire when Genghis Khan brought many tribes together. Over time, the word Tatar was used by people far away to describe anyone from a large area called Tartary. Today, it mainly means the ethnic groups who call themselves Tatars.

The largest group of Tatars are the Volga Tatars, who live in the Volga-Ural region of European Russia, mainly in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. They make up most of the people in Tatarstan. They speak the Tatar language.

Studies show that the main groups of Tatars — Volga, Crimean, and Siberian — developed separately from one another, though they may have shared some culture from times such as the Golden Horde.

Some noble families in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire came from Tatar origins.

Etymology

The name "Tatar" began as a way to describe groups from the old Golden Horde in Europe, like those in Kazan, Crimea, Astrakhan, Qasim, and Siberia. The word "Tartar" came from Latin or French, then passed through Turkish and Persian languages. The extra "r" in "Tartar" likely came from a mix-up with the word "Tartarus."

The Persian word for Tatars was first used in the 1300s to talk about groups led by Genghis Khan. Its origin is not fully known, but it might come from an older word, "tata." Tatars wrote their name in different ways in their own languages.

Over time, many groups in Siberia and far eastern Russia also began calling themselves Tatars, even if they were not directly related to the original groups. These included the Chulyms, Khakas, Teleut, and Shor peoples. Some experts think these groups adopted the name Tatar later in history.

Languages

Further information: Kipchak languages, Tatar language, and Crimean Tatar language

Long ago, the Tatars could speak two languages together. They spoke their own Tatar language and another Turkic language.

Today, the Tatar language is part of a group called the Kypchak-Volga-Ural group. There are two main Tatar dialects: Central and Western. The Western dialect is mainly spoken by Mishärs, while the Central dialect is spoken by Kazan and Astrakhan Tatars. Both of these dialects have smaller versions, called subdialects.

The Siberian Tatar language is different from the main Tatar language. It has its own dialects that are very different from each other and from the standard Tatar language. People who speak Siberian Tatar often have trouble understanding each other.

Crimean Tatar is the original language of the Crimean Tatar people. Even though it shares the name "Tatar" with the Kazan Tatar language, it is actually more closely related to Kumyk and Karachay-Balkar languages.

Contemporary groups and nations

The largest Tatar groups are the Volga Tatars in Idel-Ural, Russia, and the Crimean Tatars in Crimea. Smaller groups include the Lipka Tatars in Europe, the Astrakhan Tatars, and the Siberian Tatars in Asia.

Volga Tatars

Most Volga Tatars come from the Kipchaks of the Golden Horde or the Bulgars. They formed the Kazan Khanate, which later became part of Russia. Today, Volga Tatars mainly practice Islam and speak the Tatar language.

Astrakhan Tatars

The Astrakhan Tatars live mostly in Astrakhan Oblast. Many Volga Tatars also live there, and the differences between the two groups are now small.

Lipka Tatars

The Lipka Tatars settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century. They kept their Islamic religion and traditions, creating a unique Muslim culture that mixed with local ways.

Crimean Tatars

Crimean Tatars are the original people of Crimea. They formed between the 13th and 17th centuries from many groups. They mostly became Muslims in the 14th century and were part of the Crimean Khanate. In 1783, Russia took over Crimea. Many Crimean Tatars had to leave, and during Soviet times, many were moved away. Today, they are about 12% of Crimea's population, with communities in Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Siberian Tatars

The Siberian Tatars live in three areas: from Tobolsk to Tomsk, the Altay region, and South Yeniseisk. They come from many North Asian groups who were later ruled by the Mongols.

Population of Tatars, 1926–2021