The Merya people (Russian: Меря; also Merä) inhabited a territory corresponding roughly to what is now the area of the Golden Ring or Zalesye region of Russia, including the modern-day Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, and Vladimir oblasts.
They were briefly mentioned in the 6th century by Jordanes (as Merens) and were later described in more detail by the Primary Chronicle. Soviet archaeologists believed that the capital of the Merya was Sarskoe Gorodishche on the bank of the Nero Lake to the south of Rostov. They are thought to have been peacefully assimilated by the East Slavs after their territory became incorporated in the Kievan Rus' in the 11th century.
One hypothesis describes the Merya as western branch of the Mari people rather than a separate tribe. Their names are basically identical, Merya being a Russian transcription of the Mari self-designation, Мäрӹ (Märӛ).
The unattested Merya language is traditionally assumed to have been a member of the Volga-Finnic group. This view has been challenged by Eugene Helimski, who supposes that the Merya language was closer to the "northwest" group of Finno-Ugric (Balto-Finnic and Sami).
Some of the inhabitants of several districts of Kostroma and Yaroslavl present themselves as Meryan, although in recent censuses, they were registered as Russians. The modern Merya people have their own websites to show their flag, coat of arms and national anthem, participating in discussions on the subject in Finno-Ugric networks.
2010 saw the release of the film Ovsyanki (literal translation: “Buntings”, English title: "Silent Souls"), based on the novel of the same name, devoted to the life of modern Merya people.
Read more about this topic: Volga Finns