Upiór[a] is a demonic being from Slavic and Turkic folklore, a prototype of the vampire. It is suggested that the ubır (upiór) belief spread...

Upiór[a] is a demonic being from Slavic and Turkic folklore, a prototype of the vampire. It is suggested that the ubır (upiór) belief spread across the Eurasian steppes through the migrations of the Kipchak-Cuman people, after having its origins in the regions surrounding the Volga (İtil) River and the Pontic steppes. The modern word "vampire" derives from the Old Slavic and Turkic form "онпыр" (onpyr), with the addition of the sound "v" before a large nasal vowel (on), characteristic of Old Bulgarian, as evidenced by the traditional Bulgarian form "впир" (vpir). Other names include onpyr, vopir, vpir, upir, and upierz.