In the period of tsarist administration (1876–1917), the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz both were called Kyrgyz, with what are now the Kyrgyz subdenominated when necessary as Kara-Kyrgyz "black Kyrgyz" (alternatively known as "The Great Kyrgyz").
I perioden under zarens administration (1876-1917) blev kasakherne og kirgiserne begge kaldt kirgisere, idet de, der nu kaldes kirgisere om nødvendigt blev specificeret som kara-kirgisere "sorte kirgisere" (alternativt kendt som "de store kirgisere").