Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of cartographic materials of the XVIII-XIX centuries as a source of historical toponymy of Kazakhstan. The source review of maps and cartographic documents of the XVIII-XIX centuries is presented on basis of theoretical analysis of sources.The aim of article is the analysis of cartographic materials of the XVIII-XIX centuries, contained a various information on history of the Steppe region, which are the valuable source for study of historical toponymy of Kazakhstan. A special attention is paid to study of maps of military topographers and mapping documents stored in funds of archives and published maps, in writings and notes of pre-revolutionary scientists.The authors made a conclusion that cartographic materials are the main means of transfer of topographic information. The using of old maps allowed to create a complete picture about the historical toponymy of Kazakhstan in the past.