List of place names in Poland of German origin
The following is a list of place names in Poland of German origin, sorted by Polish voivodeship.
Many current and historical regions of Poland has throughout history been substantially, or primarily, under a strong German influence or population. The Kingdom of Prussia, and the subsequent German Empire, was made out of several areas that today is part of the modern nation state of Poland. Several areas with a primarily Polish population belonging to Germany was lost after the First World War, and several areas of primarily German population was lost after the Second World War. Some of these areas had been under continuing, or intermittent, German control for several centuries, with some having traditionally always been inhabited by German (or Germanic) peoples.
In the wake of the Potsdam Conference, and the annexation, transfer and ethnic cleansing of the former eastern territories of Germany, the Commission for the Determination of Place Names was charged with determining names in the newly acquired territories, often either by means of polonizing or renaming.
As a result of the areas' rich history, several place names in what is Poland today has a German origin.
Lower Silesia
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bogatynia |
Reichenau |
Calque |
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Rychbach |
Reichenbach |
"Rich stream" (Piława River) |
Renamed Dzierżoniów after Jan Dzierżon in 1946 |
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Nowa Ruda |
Neurode |
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Wałbrzych |
Walbrich |
"Forest castle" |
Late medieval German version of Wallenberg or Walmberg |
Lubusz
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brójce |
Brätz |
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Cybinka |
Ziebingen |
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Janiszowice |
Jähnsdorf |
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Kunowice |
Kunersdorf |
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Nowa Sól |
Neusalz [an der Oder] |
Translation |
"New salt" |
Founded as Zum Neuen Saltze in 1563. Documented as Neusalzburg ("New Salzburg") in 1585 and later as Neusalz ("New Salt"). |
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Nowe Biskupice |
Neu Bischofsee |
Translation |
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Nowe Miasteczko |
Neustädtel |
Translation |
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Skwierzyna |
Schwerin [an der Warthe] |
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Stare Biskupice |
Alt Bischofsee |
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Stary Dwór |
Altenhof |
Pomerania
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Czarna Dąbrówka |
Schwarz Damerkow |
Translation |
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Podkomorzyce |
Puttkamerhof |
Translation |
Also known in German as Niemietzke |
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Czarna Woda |
Schwarzwasser |
Translation |
"Black water" |
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Szembruk |
Schönbrück |
Transliteration |
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Oksywie |
Oxhöft |
Archaic; today known as Gdynia |
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Nowy Staw |
Neuteich |
Translation |
"New Pond" |
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Ryjewo |
Rehhof |
Transliteration |
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Stare Pole |
Altfelde |
Translation |
"Old field" |
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Stary Targ |
Altmark |
Translation |
"Old Market" |
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Sztutowo |
Stutthof |
Upper Silesia
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kluczbork |
Kreuzburg |
Warmia-Masuria
Towns
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bartoszyce |
Bartenstein |
Transliteration |
1332 |
"Bartians' rock" |
Originally known as Rosenthal |
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Działdowo |
Soldau |
Transliteration |
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Gołdap |
Goldap |
Transliteration |
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Rastembork |
Rastenburg |
Transliteration |
Current name Kętrzyn |
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Ostróda |
Osterode |
Transliteration |
1270 |
Named after the town in Saxony |
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Jańsbork |
Johannisburg |
Transliteration |
Current name Pisz |
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Ryn |
Rhein |
Transliteration |
1405 |
Named after the Rhine |
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Zalewo |
Saalfeld |
Transliteration |
1299 |
Named after the town in Thuringia |
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Wartembork{{#tag:ref|also spelled Wartenberg, Wartenbergk, Wathberg, Bartenburg, Warperc, Wasperc, Wartbór, Wartbórz|group=nb}} |
Wartenburg |
Transliteration |
1466 |
Named after Wartenburg on the Elbe; today known as Barczewo, after Polish national activist Walenty Barczewski (1865–1928); named given in December 1946 after the area was transferred to Poland. |
REF |
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Biskupiec |
Bischofsburg |
Transliteration |
1389 |
"Bishop's castle" |
Name changed after annexation to Poland, 1946 |
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Braniewo |
Braunsberg (originally Brunsberg) |
"Bruno's rock" |
Named after Bruno von Schauenburg (1205–1281), according to Johann Friedrich Goldbeck (1748–1812) |
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Dobre Miasto |
Guttstadt |
Translation |
"Good city" |
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Frombork |
Frauenburg |
Transliteration |
"Our Lady's fortress" |
Allegedly named after the widow of the stronghold owner, who gave it to the bishop |
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Olsztyn |
Allenstein |
Transliteration |
1348 |
"Castle on [the] Alle" |
The river Alle is today known as Łyna |
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Melzak |
Mehlsack |
Transliteration |
"Flour sack" |
Linguistic corruption of Old Prussian Malcekuke, "Woods of the Subterraneous" or "Devil's ground". Today known as Pieniężno after Seweryn Pieniężny (1852–1894) |
Villages
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brąswałd |
Braunswalde |
Transliteration |
1337 |
Originally Brunswalde |
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Bukwałd |
Gross Buchwalde |
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Gietrzwałd |
Dietrichswalde |
1352 |
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Kierzbuń |
Kirschbaum |
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Kronowo |
Kronau |
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Nikielkowo |
Nickelsdorf |
Translation |
1366 |
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Stary Olsztyn |
Alt Allenstein |
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Sząbruk |
Schönbrück |
Transliteration |
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Tomaszkowo |
Thomsdorf |
West Pomerania
Polish name |
German origin |
Polonisation |
First mention (German) |
Meaning (German) |
Notes |
References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barlinek |
Berlinchen |
Founded as Nova Berlyn by Brandenburgian margraves. |
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Biały Bór |
Baldenburg |
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Dębno |
Neudamm |
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Gozdowice |
Güstebiese |
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Gryfice |
Greifenberg |
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Karlino |
Körlin [an der Persante] |
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Koszalin |
Köslin |
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Krosino |
Grössin |
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Krosino |
Groß Krössin |
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Barwice |
Bärwalde |
Transliteration |
Today Mieszkowice |
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Dębogóra |
Eichberg |
Translation |
"Oak mountain" |
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Zielenica |
Grünwalde |
Translation |
"Green forest" |
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Lipka |
Linden |
Translation |
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Fredlądczyk |
Märkisch Friedland |
Transliteration |
Today Mirosławiec |
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Horzewo |
Horst |
Transliteration |
Today Niechorze |
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Nowe Warpno |
Neuwarp |
Translation |
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Stary Kostrzynek |
Altcüstrinchen |
Translation |
See also
- List of German exonyms for places in Poland