In the past the Khoyts comprised a separate aimak. In Kalmykia, the Khoyts can be found among the Derbet, Buzava and Torghut. Khoyts also live in Astrakhan oblast'. The ancestors of Sanj were Buzava. They came to Kalmykia from Kok Nur (today the territory of China). Before they were defeated by the Manchus, the Kok Nur Khoyts were part of Dzungar Khanate. After the defeat, the Khoyts migrated westward and came to Volga under the leadership of Sheryan. Sanj knows well about his ancestors on his paternal side. His knowldege of his maternal ancestors is partial.