The article studies the history of the Lutheran tradition in the Middle Urals as of the appearance of the first Lutherans until the late 19th century. With reference to the analysis of academic literature, archival sources and statistical service data, the author traces the history of Ural Lutheran communities formation, their ethnical makeup and the changes in their numbers. The research shows that, contrary to Catholicism, the Lutheran tradition in the Urals was formed as a full-fledged religious institution with all the necessary attributes as early as at the beginning of the 18th century. During its first years of existence, it mainly consisted of Swedes but by the end of the 18th century, the majority of Middle Ural Lutherans were descendants of German lands who came to work at factories. Socially, they were specialists working in the mining and civil spheres. Supported by the authorities, Lutherans were able to keep their faith and identity being surrounded by the dominating Orthodox population and made an integral part of the local communities participating in the development of the region.