List of early Slavic peoples

Ancestors

• Proto-Indo-Europeans
• *Proto-Balto-Slavs
• **Proto-Slavs

  Antiquity

• Sporoi : common ancestors of all Slavs, Proto-Slavs, and the West-Slavic Veneti. It is hypothesized that Proto-Slavs had their origin in the area of present-day western Ukraine - west of the Dnieper, east of the Vistula, south of the Pripyat Marshes and north of the Carpathian Mountains and the Dniester, to the northwest of the Pontic Eurasian Steppes and south of the Baltic peoples, especially West Baltic peoples, with whom they have common ancestors, the Balto-Slavs. Proto-Slavs are mainly associated with the Zarubintsy culture that had possible links to the ancient peoples of the Vistula basin. Proto and Early Slavs, who were closely related to the Balts, were more influenced by the ancient Celts and by the Scythians and Sarmatians. According to Marija Gimbutas, the people named "Scythian Farmers", mentioned by Herodotus, were the Proto-Slavs or Early Slavs, who bordered and lived south of the Balts, and not Scythians.
• * Antes: common ancestors of the East Slavs and most Eastern South Slavs. Also contributed to the West Slavs
• * Veneti: common ancestors of the West Slavs. Also contributed to the Western South Slavs and the East Slavs
• * Sclaveni: ancestors of the Western South Slavs. Their name was adopted by the Byzantines in the 600s as a catch-all for all Balkan Slavs, regardless of origin

  Middle Ages

East Slavs

• Antes
• * Western-Northern groups
• ** Western Ruthenian group / Western Old East Slavs / Western Russian group
• *** Southwestern group
• **** Dulebes, ancestors of Ukrainians, Belarusians, part of Czechs and Poles. Assimilated into several East Slavic tribes or were the ancestors of them: the Volhynians, Drevlians, Polans, Dregoviches, and possibly Buzhans, eventually to become part of the Kievan Rus'.
• ***** Buzhans / Bugans
• ****** Southern Bug Buzhans . Ancestors of Ukrainians and Russians.
• ****** Western Bug Buzhans / Volhynians. Ancestors of Ukrainians, part of Czechs, and Poles.
• ***** Dregoviches / Dregovichians, they lived along the lower Pripyat River and the northern parts of the right bank of the Dnieper River. Ancestors of Belarusians.
• ***** Drevlyans, they lived in Polesia and right-bank Ukraine. Ancestors of Ukrainians and Belarusians.
• ***** Polans , in Dnieper right bank, Kyiv region. Ancestors of Ukrainians.
• **** Teverians / Stadici / Stadichi ?, lived around Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of Romanians.
• **** White Croats, in Prykarpattia and Zakarpattia. Ancestors of Rusyns, Ukrainians, Poles, Slovaks, Czechs and Croats.
• *** Southern group
• **** Don Slavs
• **** Ulichians, lived around lived around Southern Ukraine and Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of Romanians.
• *** Central group
• **** Radimichians / Radimichs. Ancestors of Belarusians and part of Russians. Mentioned as being a Lyakh tribes.
• **** Severians, some migrated south into the Eastern Balkans. Ancestors of Ukrainians, Russians and part of Slavic Bulgarians.
• ** Northern Russian group / Old Russian group / Northern Old East Slavs / Northern Ruthenian group
• *** Northeastern group
• **** Krivichians, originally native to the area around Pskov. Ancestors of Belarusians and Russians
• ***** Polochans / Polotskian Krivichians, in Polotsk Land . Ancestors of Belarusians.
• ***** Pskovians / Pskovian Krivichians, in Pskov Land. Ancestors of Russians.
• ***** Smolenians / Smolenian Krivichians, in Smolensk Land . Ancestors of Russians.
• ***** Tverians / Tverian Krivichians, in Tver Land . Ancestors of Russians.
• ***** Zalessians / Zalessian Krivichians, in Zalessa Land or Zalesye / Opolyans / Opolyan Krivichians, in Opolye Land or Opolye .
• **** Vyatichians also Oka Slavs, described as a Lyakh tribe. Ancestors of Russians.
• ***** Kozelians / Kozelian Vyatichians, in Kozelsk Land.
• ***** Ryazanians / Ryazanian Vyatichians, in Ryazan' Land.
• *** Northwestern group
• **** Ilmen Slavs / Ilmen Slovenians, also known as Novgorod Slovenes, Novgorod Slavs. Ancestors of Russians.
• ***** Bezhetians / Bezhetian Ilmen Slovenians .
• ***** Derevians / Derevian Ilmen Slovenians .
• ***** Obonegians / Obonegian Ilmen Slovenians .
• ***** Shelonians / Shelonian Ilmen Slovenians .

  West Slavs

• Veneti / Wends Lechitic ancestors of West Slavs; some were also the ancestors of part of South Slavs
• * Czech–Moravian-Slovak group
• ** Bohemians, tribal confederation, in Bohemia, Czech Republic. Ancestors of Czechs.
• *** Berunzani.
• *** Chekhove proper / Čechové, also known as Pragani, the tribe that lived in the Prague and Central Bohemian regions
• *** Děčané, in Děčín region, Czech Republic.
• *** Dudlebi , a group of Dulebes assimilated as a Slavic Bohemian or Czech tribe..
• *** Khébané.
• *** Khodove .
• *** Litoměřici or Lutomerizi, in the Czech lands from the sixth century.
• *** Luchane / Luchani / Lutsane
• *** Lemuzi
• *** Lupiglai
• *** Pshovane / Besunzane
• *** Sedlichane
• *** Volynyane, a group of Volhynians assimilated as a Slavic Bohemian or Czech tribe. Volhynians are ancestors of Poles, Czechs and modern-day Ukrainians.
• *** Zlicans / Zlichane, in Bohemia. Ancestors of Czechs and possibly Poles.
• *** White Croats, in Northeastern Bohemia and Southern Poland by the 10th century, ancestors of Czechs, Slovaks, Poles and Croats.
• ** Moravians / Northern Merehani, tribal confederation, in Záhorie and Moravia. Ancestors of Moravians and part of the Slovaks. The Morava river of Moravia was in their lands. Ancestors of the South Moravians, in Morava river valley, east Serbia, that migrated south of the Danube and were assimilated by South Slavs.
• *** Ganátsi / Hanátsi
• *** Golasitsi / Holasitsi
• *** Gorátsi / Horátsi
• ***
• **Slovaks*, tribal confederation, in Slovakia and northern parts of Hungary, possibly western Hungary as well. Ancestors of Slovaks, mayhaps were part of broader Slavic group sharing the same name. Sometimes referred to as Slovieni, although this word is generally incorrect, being a contracted term from 19th century. Note: While today the male member of Slovak nation is called Slovák, the original name for such person would be approx. Sloven. This is evident from the endonym of the country, and also the name for Slovak female or language. This change, purely linguistical, occurred starting in 14th century, applying the newer suffix -ák/-ak/-iak to the stem word Slov. This change most likely originated in neighbouring Bohemia, which is probably the reason why it never completely permeated Slovak language.
• * Lechites Lechitic tribes are ancestors of Poles/Polish people, Lechia was the pre-Christian name of Poland.
• ** Polish tribes- also known as Lechitic tribes.
• *** Lendians, in east Lesser Poland and Red Ruthenia. Ancestors of Poles.
• *** Masovians, tribal confederation, in Mazovia, Poland. Ancestors of Poles.
• *** Polans , tribal confederation, in Greater Poland, Poland. Ancestors of Poles.
• *** Silesians / Silezane / Slezane Lechitic tribe, Poland. Ancestors of Poles.
• **** Besunzane / Bezunchane
• **** Bobryane
• **** Dyedoshane / Dadosesani
• **** Golensizi
• **** Lubushane
• **** Lupiglaa
• **** Opolans / Opolini
• **** Tryebovane
• *** Vistulans, in Lesser Poland, tribal confederation, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Likely the same people as the White Croats.
• ** Pomeranians, tribal confederation, in Pomerania, Lechitic tribes living at the Baltic Sea regions. Ancestors of Poles, Kashubians, Slovincians, and modern-day Germans.
• *** Kashubians, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. Ancestors of the modern-day Kashubians.
• *** Prissani / Pyritzans, in Pomerania, Poland. Ancestors of Poles.
• *** Slovincians, a West Slavic tribe that lived between lakes Gardno and Łebsko near Słupsk in Pomerania. Ancestors of modern-day Slovincians.
• *** Wolinians / Uelunzani, on Wolin island, Pomerania, Poland. Ancestors of Poles
• ** Goplans, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Poland. Ancestors of Poles.
• * Wends also spelled as Wenedi, Veneti, Vendi, Vindi, Vinden, includes Northern Polabian and Southern Polabian tribes. The former are linguistically grouped with Lechitic, while the latter with Sorbian languages. See also Bavaria Slavica where some Wends settled in Bavaria and Franconia.
• ** Veleti , tribes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, modern-day Germany.
• *** Lutici, Lechitic tribal confederation, northeastern region of modern-day Germany.
• **** Bethenici
• **** Doshane
• **** Lutici
• ***** Circipane, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, modern-day Germany.
• ***** Kessinians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• ***** Redarians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• ***** Tollensians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• **** Hevelli, in Brandenburg, by river Havel.
• ***** Smeldingi
• **** Morizani / Morichane
• **** Rani / Rujani, on Lechitic tribes on Rugia/Rügen island.
• **** Sprevane, by river Spree.
• **** Stodorane
• **** Ukrani, in Uckermark and Vorpommern-Greifswald.
• *** Obotrites / Reragi
• **** Belesem / Byelozem = "White Earth" or "White Earth Tribe", they lived scattered in Oster Walde / Osterwalde - "Eastern Woods" in the Old Mainland Saxon view, west banks of the Elbe river
• **** Drevani = "Wood" or "Wood Tribe", they lived scattered in Oster Walde / Osterwalde - "Eastern Woods" in the Old Mainland Saxon view, west banks of the Elbe river) .
• **** Linones, in the region around Lenzen.
• **** Lipani, tribe that lived scattered in the west banks of the Elbe river
• **** Obotrites proper / Northern Obotrites.
• **** Polabians proper, in modern-day eastern Schleswig-Holstein area.
• **** Travjane east of the Trave.
• **** Wagri / Wagrians.
• **** Warnabi / Warnower in.
• ** Southern Polabians tribes in Saxony and Thuringia.
• **** Sorbian tribal confederation in the narrow sense
• ***** Proper Sorbs / White Serbs
• ***** Chutici-Chudzicy-Khutices
• ***** Citici-Żytyce-Zhitices
• ***** Colodici-Koledycze-Koledices
• ***** Glomacze-Daleminzi
• ***** Neletici-Neletiches-Nieletycy-Nieletycze
• ***** Nishans-Nishane
• ***** Nizitsi-Niszanie-Nizchices
• ***** Nudycze
• ***** Plisny
• ***** Siusler-Susłowie
• ***** Szkudycze
• ***** Zyrmunty-Yhirmunts
• **** Sorbian tribal confederation in the wider sense
• ***** Lusatians, in Lower Lusatia. Ancestors of Sorbs in Lower Lusatia.
• ***** Milchane / Milceni / Milzeni, in Upper Lusatia, and in an area of far north Bohemia. Ancestors of Sorbs in Upper Lusatia.