Novorossiya is a historical name, used during the era of the Russian Empire for an administrative area that would later become the southern mainland of Ukraine: the region immediately north of the Black Sea and Crimea. The province fell largely within a slightly wider area known as in Ukrainian: Степовина, romanized: Stepovyna and as in Russian: Степь, romanized: Step, or Ukrainian: Низ, romanized: Nyz / Russian: Низ, romanized: Niz. The name Novorossiya, which means New Russia, entered official usage in 1764, after the Russian Empire conquered the Crimean Khanate, and annexed its territories, when Novorossiya Governorate was founded. Official usage of the name ceased after 1917, when the entire area was annexed by the Ukrainian People's Republic, precursor of the Ukrainian SSR.