It forms a part and the bulk of Pomerelia, also known as Vistula Pomerania, Eastern Pomerania, and previously Polish Pomerania; however, in contrast to the latter terms, it does not cover the historical areas of Chełmno Land and Michałów Land, sometimes with the addition of Lubawa Land.
In Polish language, the area was called Pomorze ('Pomerania') since the Middle Ages. In the early 14th century the Teutonic Knightsinvaded and annexed the region from Poland into their monastic state, which already included historical Prussia, located east of the region. As a result of the Teutonic rule, in German terminology the name of Prussia was also extended to annexed Polish lands like Vistula/Eastern Pomerania, although it was never inhabited by BalticPrussians but by the Slavic Poles.