This is a list of early Slavic peoples reported in Late Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, that is, before the year AD 1500.
Ancestors
Proto-Indo-Europeans (Proto-Indo-European speakers) Proto-Balto-Slavs (common ancestors of Balts and Slavs) (Proto-Balto-Slavic speakers) Proto-Slavs (Proto-Slavic speakers)
Antiquity
Sporoi (also known as Vistula Veneti): 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. Anthony, David W. (2007). The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World (568 p.) Princeton: Princeton University Press. Proto-Slavs are mainly associated with the Zarubintsy culture Anthony, David W. (2007). The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World (568 p.) Princeton: Princeton University Press. that had possible links to the ancient peoples of the Vistula basin (Przeworsk culture). Proto and Early Slavs, who were closely related to the Balts, were more influenced by the ancient Celts (La Tène culture) and by the Scythians and Sarmatians (Western Eurasian Steppe Iranian peoples from the northeast group who were nomads or seminomads)."Land and People, p.23" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2005.Tarasov I. The balts in the Migration Period. P. I. Galindians, p. 97 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 (Neuri, also potential Proto-Slavs), and not Scythians.Gimbutas, Marija (1963). The Balts. London : Thames and Hudson, Ancient peoples and places 33. 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 (common ancestors of the East Slavs; some were also the ancestors of part of West Slavs and South Slavs) Western-Northern groups Western Ruthenian group / Western Old East Slavs / Western Russian group ("Russians" or "Russian group" in the broad sense means Old East Slavic peoples, the common group from where modern ethnic groups or peoples of the Ukrainians, Belarusians and Rusinians, Russians descend and not only Russians in the narrow sense) Southwestern group (roughly in a large part of the hypothesized region of Proto-Slavs origin) Dulebes (Dulebi), 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 (Bugane > Buzhane; [g] > [ʒ]; zh = [ʒ]) (in the regions of the Southern Bug and Western Bug rivers) Southern Bug Buzhans (Southern Bug Slavs) (Buzhane). Ancestors of Ukrainians and Russians. Western Bug Buzhans (Western Bug Slavs) / Volhynians (Volynyane). Ancestors of Ukrainians, part of Czechs, and Poles. Dregoviches / Dregovichians (Dregovichi), they lived along the lower Pripyat River and the northern parts of the right bank of the Dnieper River. Ancestors of Belarusians. Drevlyans (Drevlyane), they lived in Polesia and right-bank Ukraine. Ancestors of Ukrainians and Belarusians. Polans (eastern) (Polyane), in Dnieper right (western) bank, Kyiv region. Ancestors of Ukrainians. Teverians (Tivertsi / Tyvertsi) / Stadici / Stadichi (Stadychi)?,Koncha, S. (2012). Bavarian Geographer On Slavic Tribes From Ukraine. http://ukrbulletin.univ.kiev.ua/Visnyk-16-en/Koncha.pdf Ukrainian Studies. 12. Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. pp. 15–21. lived around Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of Romanians (especially Moldovans). White Croats, in Prykarpattia and Zakarpattia. Ancestors of Rusyns, Ukrainians, Poles, Slovaks, Czechs and Croats. Southern group Don Slavs Ulichians (Ulichi), lived around lived around Southern Ukraine and Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of Romanians (especially Moldovans). Central group Radimichians / Radimichs (Radimichi). Ancestors of Belarusians and part of Russians. Mentioned as being a Lyakh tribes. Severians (Severyane), 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 (Krivichian-Vyatichian group) (Krivichians and Vyatichians played a large part in the formation of Proto-Russians) Krivichians (Krivichi), originally native to the area around Pskov. Ancestors of Belarusians and Russians (Kievan Rus' Principalities roughly corresponded to older tribal lands) Polochans (Polochane) / Polotskian Krivichians, in Polotsk Land (Polotskaya Zemlya) (later Polotsk Principality). Ancestors of Belarusians. Pskovians / Pskovian Krivichians, in Pskov Land (Pskovskaya Zemlya). Ancestors of Russians. Smolenians / Smolenian Krivichians, in Smolensk Land (Smolenskaya Zemlya) (later Smolensk Principality). Ancestors of Russians. Tverians / Tverian Krivichians, in Tver Land (Tver'skaya Zemlya) (later Tver Principality). Ancestors of Russians. Zalessians / Zalessian Krivichians, in Zalessa Land or Zalesye (Zalesskaya Zemlya) / Opolyans / Opolyan Krivichians, in Opolye Land or Opolye (Opolskaya Zemlya) (later Rostov-Suzdal Principality or Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, that gradually evolved into the Grand Duchy of Moscow also called Muscovite Russia or Muscovite Rus') (this political entity is traditionally perceived as a cradle of the Great Russian language and Great Russian people, i.e. the Russians as a distinct Slavic people) (originally Moscow region was an enclave inhabited by a remnant of the Dniepr-Oka Baltic peoples, the Eastern Galindians or Goliad', which were conquered in the middle of 11th century by Rostov-Suzdal). Vyatichians (Vyatichi) also Oka Slavs, described as a Lyakh tribe(s). Ancestors of Russians (Kievan Rus' Principalities roughly corresponded to older tribal lands). Kozelians / Kozelian Vyatichians, in Kozelsk Land (roughly in today's Kozelsk town and Kaluga and Tula regions, later part of the Chernigov Principality by conquest). Ryazanians / Ryazanian Vyatichians, in Ryazan' Land (later Ryazan Principality or Murom-Ryazan). Northwestern group (possible Northern Slavic group?) (they played a large part in the formation of Proto-Russians) Ilmen Slavs / Ilmen Slovenians (Slovene), also known as Novgorod Slovenes, Novgorod Slavs (Slovene). Ancestors of Russians. Bezhetians / Bezhetian Ilmen Slovenians (in Bezhetsk Land - Begetskaja Zemlja) (later part of the Novgorod Land - Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the Novgorod Republic). Derevians / Derevian Ilmen Slovenians (in Dereva Land - Derevskaja Zemlja) (later part of the Novgorod Land - Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the Novgorod Republic). Obonegians / Obonegian Ilmen Slovenians (in Obonego Land - Obonegskaja Zemlja) (later part of the Novgorod Land - Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the Novgorod Republic). Shelonians / Shelonian Ilmen Slovenians (in Shelona Land - Shelonskaja Zemlja) (later part of the Novgorod Land - Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the Novgorod Republic).
West Slavs
Veneti / Wends Lechitic ancestors of West Slavs; some were also the ancestors of part of South Slavs Czech–Moravian-Slovak group Bohemians (Čechové), in Bohemia, Czech Republic. Ancestors of Czechs. The hypothesis about the Czech tribes, an abandoned historiographical hypothesis not founded in historiographical and archaeological evidence, considered the Bohemians as a Slavic tribal confederation of several pseudo-tribes: Berunzani (a Slavic Bohemian tribe, Chekhove, of West Bohemia). Chekhove proper / Čechové (Bohemian Slavs proper), also known as Pragani (Fraganeo), a presumable tribe that lived in the Prague and Central Bohemian regions Croats (Chrouati et altera Chrowati), a branch of the Croats living in Ukraine and Poland that presumably lived in Northeastern Bohemia. Děčané, in Děčín region, Czech Republic. Dudlebi (Doudlebi / Doudlebové), a group of Dulebes that presumably lived in most of the southern half of Bohemia. Khébané (Chébané / Hbané). Khodove (Chodové) ("Walkers", "Patrollers" or "Rangers"), formed from recruited people originating in the western Carpathian Mountains) (in Tuhošt' Land). Litoměřici or Lutomerizi, in the Czech lands from the sixth century (they lived in the Litoměřice region). Luchane / Luchani / Lutsane (Lučané) Lemuzi Lupiglai Pshovane (Pšované) / Besunzane (Bežunčani) Sedlichane (Sedličané / Sedlčané) Zlicans (Zlitsans) / Zlichane (Zličané) Moravians / Northern Merehani (Moravane), tribal confederation, in Záhorie (Slovakia) and Moravia. Ancestors of (modern) Moravians and part of the Slovaks. The Morava river of Moravia was in their lands. Ancestors of the South Moravians (Merehani), in Morava river valley, east Serbia, that migrated south of the Danube and were assimilated by South Slavs. Ganátsi / Hanátsi (Hanáci) Golasitsi / Holasitsi (Holasici) Gorátsi / Horátsi (Horáci) (Podyjští Moravané) Slovaks* (more appropriately Sloveni for time period of this article), also called Nitran Slavs / Váh Slavs / Hungarian Slavs / Moravian Slovenes / Sloväni / Slověniny), 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 (notice similarities with the Slovenians). 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 (Slovensko), and also the name for Slovak female (Slovenka) or language (slovenský jazyk). 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 (compared to the Moravian region of Slovácko, so called Moravian Slovakia). Lechites (Lechitic group) 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 (Poland and Ukraine). Ancestors of Poles. Masovians, tribal confederation, in Mazovia, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Polans (western), tribal confederation, in Greater Poland, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Silesians / Silezane / Slezane (Ślężanie) Lechitic tribe, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Besunzane / Bezunchane (Bieżuńczanie) Bobryane (Bobrzanie) Dyedoshane (Dziadoszanie) / Dadosesani Golensizi (Golęszyce) Lubushane (Lubuszanie) Lupiglaa (in today's Głubczyce region) Opolans / Opolini (Opolanie Lechitic tribe Silesians Slezane/(Ślężanie) Tryebovane (Trzebowianie) Vistulans, in Lesser Poland, tribal confederation, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Likely the same people as the White Croats.