The Rus () were an early medieval group or people who gave their name to the lands of Russia, Ruthenia, and Belarus. In the mid-800s they were centered around Novgorod. They dominated the area for over a hundred years. Many of the leaders of the Rus had Balto Slavic names, later both Pomeranian and Slavic names. The Pomeranian Rus of Novgorod, after they intermingled (mixed) with the Slavs of Kiev already there, became known as the Kievan Rus'.