indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Political Subdivision & Other
Usage German
Meaning & History
The name **Mecklenburg** has deep roots in northern Germany and carries both linguistic and dynastic significance. Origin & Meaning
The name comes from the **castle of Mikilenburg** (Old Saxon for “big castle”), located between the cities of Schwerin and Wismar. In Slavic, it was known as **Veligrad**, which also means “big castle.” This fortress became the ancestral seat of the **House of Mecklenburg**, a noble dynasty that ruled the region for centuries. Historical Background
- **Early Inhabitants**: The area was originally settled by pre-Christian Germanic tribes, later replaced by Slavic groups like the **Obodrites** and **Lutycy** by the 7th century AD.
- **Christianization & German Rule**: In 1160, Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony conquered the region, introducing Christianity and German feudal structures. He installed **Przybysław**, son of the defeated Obodrite ruler, as a vassal—founding the Mecklenburg dynasty.
- **Dynastic Divisions**: Over time, the territory splintered into several lines—Mecklenburg, Rostock, Güstrow, and Parchim—but was eventually reunited under the main Mecklenburg line.
- **Duchy & Grand Duchy**: In 1348, the Holy Roman Emperor elevated the rulers to **dukes**, and later, in the 19th century, to **grand dukes**. The region was divided into **Mecklenburg-Schwerin** and **Mecklenburg-Strelitz**, both of which joined the German Empire in 1871.# Mecklenburg in the U.S.
The name crossed the Atlantic with German immigrants and was used in places like **Mecklenburg County, North Carolina**, named after **Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz**, wife of King George III.
The name comes from the **castle of Mikilenburg** (Old Saxon for “big castle”), located between the cities of Schwerin and Wismar. In Slavic, it was known as **Veligrad**, which also means “big castle.” This fortress became the ancestral seat of the **House of Mecklenburg**, a noble dynasty that ruled the region for centuries. Historical Background
- **Early Inhabitants**: The area was originally settled by pre-Christian Germanic tribes, later replaced by Slavic groups like the **Obodrites** and **Lutycy** by the 7th century AD.
- **Christianization & German Rule**: In 1160, Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony conquered the region, introducing Christianity and German feudal structures. He installed **Przybysław**, son of the defeated Obodrite ruler, as a vassal—founding the Mecklenburg dynasty.
- **Dynastic Divisions**: Over time, the territory splintered into several lines—Mecklenburg, Rostock, Güstrow, and Parchim—but was eventually reunited under the main Mecklenburg line.
- **Duchy & Grand Duchy**: In 1348, the Holy Roman Emperor elevated the rulers to **dukes**, and later, in the 19th century, to **grand dukes**. The region was divided into **Mecklenburg-Schwerin** and **Mecklenburg-Strelitz**, both of which joined the German Empire in 1871.# Mecklenburg in the U.S.
The name crossed the Atlantic with German immigrants and was used in places like **Mecklenburg County, North Carolina**, named after **Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz**, wife of King George III.