The Vends is the name of small tribe living in Northern Latvia around the city of Wenden, now called Cesis. Their origin is disputed. Sometimes they are associated (or confused) with Western Slavic Wends. Many researchers believe they were a Finnic people related to Votians of Livs.

The original settlement of Vends was probably by the river Venta or Wendau near the present city of Ventspils in Western Latvia. In 12th century Vends arrived to Wenden area. Their territory was surrounded by bigger Livonian and Latvian tribes, which made them easily allies of German crusaders, who started to build a stone castle next to old Vendian wooden fortress in 1207. The Wenden castle later became the residence of the Master of the Livonian Order.

Interestingly, Vends may have connection with the national flag of Latvia. After the Rhyme Chronicle of Livonia (Livländische Reimchronik), in 1290 when local militia was recruted to defend Riga, they came from Wenden with a red banner crossed by white, "in the manner of the Vends".

Wends as a separate ethnicity existed until 16th century.