The Hyur are arguably the most recognizable and widespread race in the world of Final Fantasy XIV, serving as the foundation for many of the realm’s civilizations. Over the course of a thousand years, the Hyur migrated to Eorzea from neighboring continents and islands in three massive waves. This constant influx of new blood brought a staggeringly diverse array of technologies, philosophies, and languages to the continent.
Because of their varied origins, the Hyur completely lack a unified cultural identity. Instead, they are defined by their fierce championing of personal freedom, liberty, and progress. They are highly adaptable and quickly became the driving force behind Eorzean cultural and technological advancement. While their average physique does not boast the towering height of the Roegadyn or the lithe agility of the Elezen, their versatility allows them to excel in almost any discipline, from arcane arts to heavy martial combat.
In Eorzea, the Hyur are broadly divided into two distinct clans: the populous Midlanders and the rugged Highlanders. Beyond Eorzean shores and across dimensional rifts, they are known by other names, such as the Humes of the First and the Tonawawta of Tural.
Making up over half of the Hyuran population in Eorzea, Midlanders are exactly what their name implies: inhabitants of the lowlands and diverse middle elevations of the realm. Because they have established themselves in nearly every corner of the continent, from the dense Black Shroud to the coastal jewel of La Noscea, they are the most culturally fragmented clan in the game.
Midlanders place a massive cultural emphasis on education, literacy, and the written word. It is largely thanks to Midlander influence that Eorzea possesses common tongues, shared alphabets, and widespread literary traditions. Their innate drive for community and trade has led them to be the primary founders and architects of Eorzea's bustling city-states. Because a Midlander's background can stem from vastly different regions, their customs, fashion, and professions are incredibly varied.
Highlanders trace their origins to the harsh, mountainous regions of Eorzea—most notably the peaks of Gyr Abania and the proud city-state of Ala Mhigo. Living at high elevations and relying on physical prowess to survive, Highlanders evolved to be noticeably taller, more robust, and more muscular than their Midlander cousins.
Culturally, Highlanders are steeped in martial tradition. They value strength, combat prowess, and survival. Historically, they practiced distinctive cultural traditions, such as complex tattooing to denote tribal affiliations and the shaving of eyebrows to intimidate foes in battle (a tradition that kept sweat and blood out of their eyes during combat).
Tragically, the Highlander population was largely displaced following the Garlean Empire's brutal conquest of Ala Mhigo. Many were forced to flee across Eorzea as refugees, with a massive population settling in the deserts of Thanalan outside the walls of Ul'dah. Despite living as second-class citizens or mercenaries for decades, they retained their fiery pride and martial spirit until Ala Mhigo was finally liberated.
In the alternate dimension known as the First—one of the shards of the Source sundered by Hydaelyn—the Hyur are known as Humes. Physically, they are identical to the Hyur of the Source, but their lore is heavily tied to the apocalyptic events of their own world.
Following the Flood of Light, which wiped out all but the region of Norvrandt, the Humes became crucial to the survival of the remaining civilizations. They make up a massive portion of the population in the Crystarium, a city built around the Crystal Tower that stands as a beacon of resistance against the monstrous Sin Eaters. Humes are also prominent in the decadent, stratified city of Eulmore. Because the First never experienced the same three Eorzean migratory waves or the specific founding of Ala Mhigo, the cultural divide between "Midlander" and "Highlander" does not exist among the Humes; they are a singular, united race fighting for survival at the edge of the world.
Across the western indigo deep lies the continent of Tural (often referred to by Eorzeans as the New World), where the Hyuran people are known as the Tonawawta. Emerging heavily in the Dawntrail expansion, the Tonawawta are a major clan native primarily to the northern regions of Xak Tural, particularly around areas like Shaaloani.
Unlike the Hyur of Eorzea, the Tonawawta are deeply integrated into the specific multi-racial tapestry of Tural. They live side-by-side with other Turali races, such as the Shetona (Viera) and the Hhetsarro (Roegadyn), sharing a localized culture that emphasizes community and a profound connection to the land. Traditional Tonawawtan culture carries deep spiritual beliefs regarding the interconnectedness of life and death. According to their oral traditions, when a Tonawawtan dies, their soul journeys skyward to become a star, and the light of these ancestral stars watches over and guides the living.
Tonawawtan names often reflect the linguistic heritage of Xak Tural, with many traditional names utilizing suffixes like "-wa" or "-kwa." Following the unification of Tural under the Dawnservant Gulool Ja Ja, many Tonawawta migrated south to the bustling capital of Tuliyollal. Today, they can be found throughout the continent, blending their ancestral desert-dwelling and frontier traditions with the rapidly industrializing and vibrant culture of the Turali nation.