[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Research in Poland?

[margaret]

The current issue of Ancestry magazine has an article about Polish research.  It
set me to thinking about my husband's family.  This is strange but I wonder if 
they were polish way back when?  The
area I have them coming from in the
1800 is Pommern, especially Kreis Stolp,
Rummelsburg and Lauenburg.  When I
look at maps of Poland back in the 1600 and 1700 I can't figure out if the are of
our ancestors is Pommerm or Prussia or Poland.  The names I research are 
Lohroff, Villwock and Schwochow.  I have not done much research in the area because I do not read German and can
not decipher the records.  I am only curious, are our families German? or perhaps way back Polish?  Sure would
like someone's opinion on the subject.
Thank you.
Margaret