The area has traditionally been divided into the Kashubia, Kociewie and Tuchola Forest regions.

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 Baltic Prussians but by the Slavic Poles.

After the Partitions of Poland, the area was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia and formed part of the newly established province of West Prussia, and the name Pomerania was not used by Prussian or German authorities in relation to this region.

Following World War I and Poland's independence, much of this area became part of the new Second Polish Republic and was organized into the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

After World War II, Poland gained the remainder of the area including the city of Gdańsk, except the village of Polski, which was annexed by the Soviet Union.