Index of Imperial Russian Weights & Measures

In order to find and use specific types of Russian records, researchers need to be able to identify and understand some key terms in the Russian language. The following index contains Imperial Russian weights and measures (transliterated from Russian) and their conversion into smaller Imperial Russian units, Imperial and metric (columns left to right). The terms included here are those that you are likely to find in Russian genealogical sources. If the term you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Russian-English dictionary. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

Index — Weights – Liquid Measures – Dry Measures – Linear Measures – Monetary Terms – Other Terms

Weights

Rad

14 pud

505.58 lbs

229.33 kilograms

Berkovets

10 pud

361 lbs

163.74 kilograms

Korob

7 pud

252 lbs

114.30 kilograms

Pud

40 funt

36.11 lbs

16.38 kilograms

Funt

96 zolotnik

12.0 oz

409.5 grams

Lot

3 zolotnik

0.99 oz

12.74 grams

Zolotnik

1/96 funt

0.33 oz

4.26 grams

Dolia

1/96 zolotnik

0.0034 oz

0.044 grams

Liquid Measures

Bochka

40 vedro

121 gallons

492 liters

Chetvert

.25 bochka

32.5 gallons

123.01 liters

Vedro

3.25 gallons

12.3 liters

Butylka

1/20 vedro

0.16 gallons

0.61 liters

Dry Measures (Mostly Grains)

Chetvert

.25 rad

126.39 lbs

57.33 kilograms

Osmina

½ chetvert

63.19 lbs

28.67 kilograms

Chetverik

1/8 chetvert

15.8 lbs

7.16 kilograms

Linear Measures

Verst

500 sazhen

.663 miles

1.0668 km

Sazhen

3 arshin

7 feet

2.133 m

Arshin

16 vershok

28 inches

72.12 cm

Fut

12 diuim

1 foot

30.48 cm

Chetvert

.25 arshin

7 inches

18.03 cm

Vershok

1.75 inches

4.445 cm

Diuim

1 inch

2.54 cm

Desiatina

2400 square sazhen

2.7 acres

1.0925 ha

Chetvert

1/2 desiatina

1.35 acres

.273 ha

Monetary Terms

Chervonets

10 rubles;

(in ancient times 3 rubles)

Poltora

1 ½ ruble; 150 kopek

Ruble

100 kopek

(roughly corresponding to a dollar)

Poltina

50 kopek; ½ ruble

Chetvertak

25 kopek

Dvugrivenny

20 kopek; 2 grivennik

Pyatialtynny

15 kopek; 5 altyn

Grivna; Grivennik

10 kopek

Pyatak

5 kopek

Altyn

3 kopek; 6 den’ga

Dvushka

2 kopek; 4 den’ga

Kopek

2 den’ga

(roughly corresponding to a penny)

Den’ga

½ kopek

Notes

Specific weights and measures in Imperial Russia often changed values over time and sometimes held more than one value at the same time.  In 1918, all weights and measurements in the Soviet Union were changed to the metric system.

Other Russian Terms

Bibliography

  • Dal, V.I. Tolkovyi Slovar Zhivogo Velikorusskago Iazyka. (Moscow, 1999).

  • Kroutikhin, Mikhail I. Correspondence to the author re: Russian genealogical terms. September, 2006.

  • Mueller, V.K. English-Russian Dictionary. 24th Ed. (Moscow, 1995).

  • Pushkarev, Sergei G. Dictionary of Russian Historical Terms from the Eleventh Century to 1917 (Yale, 1970).