TheWarnabi,Warnavi,Warnahi,Wranovi,Wranefzi,Wrani,Varnes, orWarnower were aWest Slavic tribe of theObotrite confederation in the ninth through eleventh centuries. They were one of the minor tribes of the confederation living in theBillung Mark on the eastern frontier of theHoly Roman Empire. They were first mentioned byAdam of Bremen.
Etymologically their name is related to the river, theWarnow (also Warnof, Wrana, or Wranava), along which they settled in the region ofMecklenburg. It may have meant "crow river" or "black river" in theirSlavic language, or been derived from the name of theWarni (from earlierwarjan), aGermanic people who had previously lived in the same area. The name Warnabi may be a combination ofWarni andAbodriti. InLithuanian languageVarna -Varnas, Varnai - Varnos (plural) means Crow.
In the second half of the ninth century the chief town of the Warnabi was on an island inLake Sternberg at the site of thecastle of Gross Raden. The centre of their culture was near the present townsSternberg andMalchow. From 1171, 1185, and 1186 there are references to the land of the Warnabi: theWarnowe. In 1189 it is called theWarnonwe and by 1222 this was called theWornawe.