Russian: '''Raznochintsy''' (Russian: разночинцы; pronounced as /ru/;) was an official category introduced in the Digest of Laws of the Russian Empire in the 17th century for a social estate that included the lower court and governmental ranks, children of personal dvoryans, and discharged military. The category of Russian: raznochintsy grew significantly during the massive trimming down of the category of service class people (Russian: служилые люди) in the second half of the 17th century. Russian: Raznochintsy were of taxable estate, meaning those who had to pay poll tax (Russian: подушная подать). In the mid-18th century the category was abolished and a significant part of Russian: raznochintsy were transferred into peasantry, but many became merchants and various urban categories (urban Russian: [[sosloviye|sosloviya]]). As a result, Russian: raznochintsy of the 17th and 18th centuries significantly contributed to the urban growth in Siberia.[1]
Later, in the common speech the term acquired a somewhat opposite meaning—Russian: raznochintsy became to denote persons of non-noble origin who due to their education were excluded from the taxable status and could apply for the status of personal distinguished citizenship (Russian: личное почетное гражданство).
A significant number of Russian intelligentsia of the 19th century were Russian: raznochintsy.