They are a culturally heterogenous entity, coming from various sub-ethnic backgrounds such as Ashkenazi, Juhuri, Sephardi and Bukhori, but share a common Jewish identity and form a united community.

After that, there was no significant Jewish population in and around Astrakhan until the 18th century, occasional Bukhori and Juhuri merchants being the only known exception.

[1] Virtually all Jews living in Astrakhan were Ashkenazi, until an influx of Mountain Jewish settlers began around 1850.

Many of them settled in the southern part of the Old Town to the west of the Bolshiye Isady market along and around the street now known as Shaumyana.

[1] The bigger Ashkenazi synagogue was demolished by the order of the Soviet government during its anti-religious campaign.