In historical sources, the river appeared under the names: Drewenz (1926), Dribentz (1595), Drywantze (1287), Drawant, Drewant (1282), Drywanz (1261).

The sources, in the form of small streams, are located in the Górowskie Hills, at an altitude of 125 meters above sea level, near the village of Glądy in the municipality of Górowo Iławeckie.

The catchment from the Orneta water gauge (7.8 km) to the mouth of the Pasleka River is located on outwash plain.

[7][6] Before 1714, at the level of the village of Krosno, the bed of the Drwęca Warmińska River was moved in order to erect the main altar of a newly built temple in the place where an alabaster statue of the Mother of God had been found lying in the river many years earlier.

[8] In 2015–2016, a site of brook lamprey (which is under strict protection) was observed in the river at the height of the Bludyny settlement.