Founded by the Greek Byzantines, it was given its name after the word for "granaries" - κελλίa, kellia, recorded earliest in 1241 in the works of PersianchroniclerRashid al-Din. Some scholars consider the mediaeval Genoese trade centre known as Lycostomo (Λυκόστομο) was also located here.[citation needed] A town on the other side of the Danube, now in Ukraine, known as Nova Kiliia (Romanian: Chilia Nouă) or "New Chilia", was built by Stephen the Great of Moldavia in order to counteract the Ottoman Empire (that had taken control of the former town in the 15th century).
Ostrovu Tătaru village, which has no permanent population, is located on Tătaru Mare Island.
