Stoker based the name of his Dracula character on Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century prince from Wallachia. His father, Vlad Dracul, was part of the Order of the Dragon, a semi religious, military society. The word "dracul" in Romanian means "dragon" or "devil." The order was charged with protecting Christianity and fighting the Turks. "Dracula" is the diminutive form of "Dracul" and means "son of Dracul." Vlad the Impaler would eventually take it as his surname.
The idea of the vampire did not originate with Bram Stoker or his book "Dracula." Rather, the vampire had been part of folk legends for hundreds of years. While doing research for his novel, Stoker came across William Wilkinson's An Account of Wallachia and Moldavia (1820), where he learned about Vlad the Impaler. He also did research on folklore from Transylvania, where he found stories about vampires. Stoker also read and used other vampire books had been written in English earlier that same century as an inspiration.
Piecing together his research, Stoker began to create his character. Like other vampires, Dracula is immortal and drinks human blood to survive. He is is quite strong and can morph his shape into that of a bat or a wolf. He also casts no shadow, has no reflection and can change his victims into vampires. However, Dracula differs from the stereotypes of vampires that exist today. He is not killed with a wooden stake, but stabbed in the heart with a knife. Also, sunlight poses no danger to Dracula. He can move about in the daytime but with a reduction in power. The only background Stoker gives on his history is that his family was once glorious but has since fallen on hard times now that "warlike" days have passed.
Stoker also found an influence for his novel while traveling in Whitby, England in 1890. It is here that he discovered Wilkinson's book and the name Dracula. He also researched in London at the British Museum. According to the BBC, Stoker listed more than 30 books as the genesis for Dracula. However, Whitby shows up in the book as one of the settings Stoker decided to use. In fact, many visitors come to Whitby looking for the count's resting place, forgetting he is fictional, according to the BBC.