The national composition of the first residents of settlements in the Komi region of the XVI century (to the problem of Russian colonization)

The problem of ethnic composition of the population of any territory of the European North of Russia in the period of feudalism is very complicated due to the fact that it is not emphasized in the remaining documents. An attempt is made to find out, on the basis of toponymic data, the ethnic composition of the people previously inhabiting the empty territories of the Komi region in the XVI century. The author analyzed about 370 names of settlements of the Komi territory, highlighted the array of settlements named in accordance with the Russian and Komi traditions, analyzed the data obtained in the framework of the XVI century volosts. As a result, a great role of Russian migrants in the development of the region at that time was discovered. The author believes that migration of the Russian people in the Komi region is connected with the internal policy of the government of Tsar Ivan IV.