- published: 29 May 2015
- views: 2472
Demmin (German pronunciation: [dɛˈmiːn]) is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It was the capital of the former district Demmin.
The name may originate from the Slavic term "timänie", which translates as "swampy area." Another possible origin for the name of Demmin could be from Old Polabian "dym" (plural; dyminy) for smoke, referring to fire clearances that made a settlement possible. In 1075, Adam of Bremen reported a fight over the castle Dimine. In the course of history, the name changed, and sources refer to Dymine and Dimin, Latinized to Dyminium, finally Demmyn, and from 1320 on, the town was known under its present spelling Demmin.
The folk etymology is as follows: Two princesses, who built castle "Haus Demmin," promised each other in the Low German language spoken in Demmin, "Dat Hus is din und min," which translates "That house is yours (din) and mine (min)." Thus the name of the castle and of the city is said to have developed.