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The history of yurts

From ger to modern yurt

For the Mongolian herdsmen on the grassland steppes of central Asia, yurts (or gers), have been the primary shelter for centuries. Even now, the day-to-day existence of many pastoral families on the Asian plateau centres on the rhythm of nature, the seasons and life in a yurt home. Once exotic and unknown, today yurt holidays are becoming more popular as more and more people seek an eco-friendly holiday in an environment that provides comfort, durability and a light footprint.

From where does the name ‘yurt’ originate?

As with most things in history the actual word has been slightly distorted from what you might imagine. Scholar Peter Alford Andrews explained it this way:

“The word yurt is misleading. Most Westerners use it in the belief that it is a native term for the trellis tent when it is not...The Russian original, yurta, is a misapplication of the Turkic yurt meaning 'territory' or 'campsite,' but never 'tent.'...The real Turkic names for the tent, ev, öy, or üy simply mean 'dwelling,' just as Mongolian ‘ger’ does.” Andrews, Nomad Tent Types in the Middle East, p.

For more information, see our yurt book list.