The Berendei were a Turkic tribe of the Middle Ages, possibly of Kipchak or Oghuz origin. The Berendei were one of the tribes who formed the Chornye Klobuki ("Black Hats", Turkic "Karakalpak"), semi-nomadic tribes who fought as border guards for various Russian princes.

In 1177, a Cuman army, allied with Ryazan, sacked six cities belonging to the Berendei and Torkil.