In pre-revolutionary times, the word “Tatar” was often used as a general term for Muslim peoples — from the Crimean and Volga Tatars to the Caucasian Turks and Azerbaijanis.
Many of them traditionally worked as craftsmen, traders, and service providers, playing a significant role in urban life.
Street barbers, including Tatars, performed not only haircuts and shaves but also basic medical procedures — such as bloodletting or tooth extraction.