Russian etymology

Etymology:

  • Rus (singular) or Rus' (plural): Old East Slavic term for the Varangians, a group of Scandinavian traders and adventurers

Meaning:

  • Rus': "People of the oars" or "rowers" (from the Old Norse word "ros", meaning "oar")

Origin:

  • 9th century AD: Varangians establish trading posts and military outposts in the territory of present-day Russia.
  • 882 AD: Varangian leader Rurik is invited by Slavic tribes to rule over them, marking the foundation of the Kievan Rus' state.
  • 10th-13th centuries AD: The name "Rus'" is adopted as the collective term for the East Slavic population of the Kievan Rus' state.
  • 14th century AD: The name "Rus'" becomes associated with the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the predecessor of the Russian Empire.
  • 17th-18th centuries AD: The name "Rus'" is replaced by "Russia" in official usage, although "Rus'" continues to be used in some contexts.

Historical Notes:

  • The term "Rus'" originally referred specifically to the Varangian traders, but over time it came to encompass the East Slavic population that they ruled.
  • The name "Russia" was first used officially in the 17th century by Tsar Alexis I, but the term "Rus'" remained in use for centuries afterwards.
  • In modern Russian, the term "Rus'" is often used in a historical or poetic context, while "Russia" is the official name of the country.

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