Where is West Prussia Now? A Guide to Finding Your Ancestors in Modern Poland
If you are tracing your family tree and found records mentioning Westpreußen (West Prussia) or Ostpreußen (East Prussia), you might be looking for them on a German map. However, if you want to visit those places today, you need to book a flight to Poland.
As a professional guide based in Gdańsk, I specialize in helping descendants from the USA and across the globe reconnect with these „lost” lands that are now a vibrant part of the Republic of Poland.
The Great Shift: From Prussia to Poland
The most important thing to understand is that after World War II (1945), the borders of Europe shifted significantly. The historical regions of Prussia were dissolved, and the land became part of modern Poland.
- West Prussia (Westpreußen) is now primarily the Pomeranian and Kuyavian-Pomeranian regions of Northern Poland.
- Royal Prussia (the older, Polish-linked part of the region) is the historical heart of the Polish seaside.
- East Prussia (Ostpreußen) was split; the southern part is now the stunning Masurian Lake District (Mazury) in Poland, while the northern tip is the Kaliningrad enclave.
Locating Your Ancestral Home Today
When you see a German town name in your genealogy records, it likely has a Polish name today. For example:
- Danzig is now Gdańsk
- Marienwerder is now Kwidzyn
- Thorn is now Toruń
- Elbing is now Elbląg
- Allenstein (East Prussia) is now Olsztyn
Why This Region is „Polish” Again
For many, it’s a surprise to learn that regions like Royal Prussia were actually part of the Kingdom of Poland for centuries (from 1466 to 1772) before they were annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Today, when you visit Gdańsk or the Kashubian countryside, you are experiencing a deep, multicultural history where Polish, German, and Kashubian influences have lived side-by-side for a thousand years.
How I Bridge the Gap for You
Searching for roots in a foreign country with a different language can be overwhelming. That is why I created a bridge between the USA and Poland:
- „Where They Walked” Live Tours: I travel to your ancestor’s specific village with a camera. Via a live stream, you can see the church where they were married, the cemetery where your family name might still be on a headstone, and the landscape they called home—all live from Poland to your living room in the US.
- Genealogy & On-Site Research: I visit local Polish State Archives and Parish offices to find records that aren’t available online.
- Heritage Travel Planning: If you decide to visit Poland in person, I will be your driver and translator, taking you exactly to the spots your great-grandparents left behind over a century ago.
Is your family from West or East Prussia? Don’t let the old borders stop you. Whether it’s a village near Słupsk, a farm in the Masurian lakes, or a tenement house in Gdańsk, I am here to help you find it in today’s Poland.
Contact me at gdansktourguide.com to start your journey home.
| Historical German Name | Modern Polish Name | Region / Note |
| Danzig | Gdańsk | The capital of West Prussia |
| Zoppot | Sopot | Famous seaside resort |
| Gdingen (Gotenhafen) | Gdynia | Part of the modern „Tricity” |
| Stolp | Słupsk | Gateway to Farther Pomerania |
| Elbing | Elbląg | Major port in former West/East Prussia border |
| Marienburg | Malbork | Home to the world’s largest brick castle |
| Dirschau | Tczew | Key railway and Vistula river hub |
| Neustadt in Westpreußen | Wejherowo | The spiritual capital of Kashubia |
| Karthaus | Kartuzy | Heart of the Kashubian Lake District |
| Berent | Kościerzyna | Important Kashubian center |
| Konitz | Chojnice | Southern gateway to the Tuchola Forest |
| Graudenz | Grudziądz | Fortress city on the Vistula |
| Thorn | Toruń | Birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus |
| Marienwerder | Kwidzyn | Former seat of the Bishopric of Pomesania |
| Putzig | Puck | Historic port on the Bay of Puck |
| Hela | Hel | The famous peninsula „at the end of Poland” |
| Lauenburg | Lębork | Historic border town (Lauenburg-Bütow Land) |
| Bütow | Bytów | Famous for its Teutonic Castle |
| Allenstein (East Prussia) | Olsztyn | Capital of the Masurian Lake District |
Discover the Tricity
Would you like to see Gdańsk, Sopot or Gdynia in a relaxed and memorable way?
Choose a tour or contact me directly — I’ll be happy to create a tour tailored especially for you.