In Polish tradition we don't have many stories about werewolves. This is "specialty" of Western Europe. I have done a research in this matter long time ago, and it has definitely (ethnically) western origin. Surprised?
Yes and no.
the western authors had East European place names and origins for their inventions.
Transylvania, Vlad the Impaler (etc) for Vampires.
I would guess it's because these places and names are vague or completely unknown to most West Europeans allowing the authors huge amounts of freedom to fictionalize character development and events.
Even now names like the Carpathians or Tatras bring me images of beautifully bleak wildernesses with wolves or bears and locals who avoid eye contact as they scurry past strangers in the area, suspicious of their presence and afraid.... Afraid to even hint of the terrible secrets they and their neighbours share with the leaden gray skies and pine clad hills of Niedzwiedz/Biala Pod Stolem/Warowkrac....even though you can probably eat in a McDonalds in every small town.