Gützkow () is a town in the District of Vorpommern-Greifswald in

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV; ; nds, Mäkelborg-Vörpommern), also known by its anglicized name Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, is a state in the north-east of Germany. Of the country's sixteen states, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ranks 14th in po ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. It is situated some 15 km south of

Greifswald Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (german: Universitäts- und Hansestadt Greifswald, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rosto ...

, on the north bank of the River Peene. Gützkow was the central town of the medieval

County of Gützkow The County of Gützkow (german: Grafschaft Gützkow) was a county in the Duchy of Pomerania in the High Middle Ages. It was established in 1129 from the Castellany of Gützkow. Following the death of its last count in 1359, it was reestablished i ...

History

The name Gützkow is derived from the Slavic Old Polabian language, as is the case of most toponyms in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The oldest records of the name are 1128 as "Gozgauia", 1140 Chozcho, 1163 Gozkowe, 1175 Gotzchowe, 1183 Chozkowe, 1207 Gotzkowe, 1214 Chozcowe, 1228 Gutzkowe and are derived from polabian ''Gost'' = German ''Gast'' (English "guest"), the town having had a temple, to which many guests traveled. The assumption of a person named ''Chockov'' (place of ''Chocek'', ''Chocek'' as name-giver) is not based on facts. Other historical earliest historical names include ''Gokecowe'', ''Gotzekowe'' and ''Gotzkovborg''

References

Vorpommern-Greifswald Populated places established in the 14th century 1353 establishments in Europe {{VorpommernGreifswald-geo-stub