Denmark Counties

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Prior to the establishment of lens in the 1500s Denmark was divided into several syssel (plural: sysler), fourteen on the Jutland peninsula, two on the island of Fyn, and four on the island of Zealand.[1] Since the creation of the lens the organization of administrative jurisdictions in Denmark has changed many times. The purpose, function, and designation of each of these changes is described in this article.

To 1662[edit | edit source]

In the 1500s Denmark was organized into areas called Lens (fief). Each len was associated with a castle and had some of the surrounding herreder (districts) attached. Each len was under the supervision of a government appointed Lensmand who managed the King's affairs within the Len.

Lens were divided into three types: regnskabslen (accounting), afgiftslen (taxation) and tjenestelen (service). In an accounting len (also called fadeburslen), the lensmand received an annual fee for managing the len, while the rest of the len's income went to the Crown. In a afgiftslen, the lensmand had to provide a certain annual sum in money and kind to the treasury (rentekammer) and could keep the rest of the len's income. A tjenestelen was awarded to a lensmand in exchange for their service and was exempt from taxation. When King Frederik III introduced the absolute monarchy (Enevælde) in 1660 there were 49 len.[2]

  • Cities, Fiefs [Lens], and Parishes, 1660 Click for larger image

    Cities, Fiefs [Lens], and Parishes, 1660 Click for larger image

Alphabetical List[edit | edit source]

Jylland

  • Aakær
  • Aalborghus
  • Aastrup
  • Bygholm
  • Børglum
  • Bøvling
  • Dronningborg
  • Dueholm
  • Hald
  • Havreballegård
  • Kalø
  • Koldinghus
  • Lundenæs
  • Mariager
  • Riberhus
  • Sejlstrup
  • Silkeborg
  • Skanderborg
  • Skivehus
  • Stjernholm
  • Tørning
  • Vestervig
  • Ørum

Fyn

  • Hagenskov
  • Hindsgavl
  • Nyborg
  • Odensegård
  • Rugård
  • Søbygård-Gudsgave (Ærø)
  • Tranekær

Sjælland

  • Aalholm (Lolland)
  • Abrahamstrup
  • Antvorskov
  • Dragsholm
  • Frederiksborg
  • Halsted / Ravnsborg (Lolland)
  • Himmershus (Bornholm)
  • Holbæk
  • Hørsholm
  • Jungshoved
  • Kalundborg
  • Korsør
  • Kronborg
  • København
  • Nykøbing (Falster)
  • Sorø
  • Stegehus (Møn)
  • Sæbygård
  • Ringsted
  • Roskilde
  • Tryggevælde
  • Vordingborg

1662-1793[edit | edit source]

On 16 February 1662 the len were reorganized into 48 Amter. Most of the amt had similar boundaries to the original len. The main difference was that the amtmand did not have military authority as the lensmand had.

  • The Counties of Denmark, 1662-1793 Click for larger image

    The Counties of Denmark, 1662-1793 Click for larger image

Alphabetical List[edit | edit source]

Jylland

  • Aakær
  • Aalborghus
  • Aastrup
  • Børglum
  • Bøvling
  • Dronningborg
  • Dueholm
  • Hald
  • Hals
  • Havreballegård
  • Holbæk
  • Kalø
  • Koldinghus
  • Lundenæs
  • Mariager
  • Riberhus
  • Sejlstrup
  • Silkeborg
  • Skanderborg
  • Skivehus
  • Stjernholm
  • Vestervig
  • Ørum

Fyn

  • Assens
  • Hindsgavl
  • Nyborg
  • Odensegård
  • Rugård
  • Tranekær

Sjælland

1793-1970[edit | edit source]

In 1793 Denmark was reorganized into 24 counties. The organization of Danish records in the FamilySearch Catalog is based upon this time period.

  • The Counties of Denmark, 1793-1970 Click for larger image

    The Counties of Denmark, 1793-1970 Click for larger image

Alphabetical List[edit | edit source]

Clickable Map[edit | edit source]

HjørringHjørringÅlborgThistedViborgRandersRandersRingkøbingSkanderborgÅrhusRibeVejleTønderHaderslevÅbenråSønderborgOdenseSvendborgMariboHolbækSorøFrederiksborgPræstøKøbenhavnBornholmKøbenhavn CityDanish Amts 1793 to 1970 2x2.jpg

1970-2006[edit | edit source]

In 1970 Denmark was reorganized into 15 counties.

  • The Counties of Denmark, 1970-2006 Click for larger image

    The Counties of Denmark, 1970-2006 Click for larger image

Alphabetical List[edit | edit source]

2007[edit | edit source]

On 1 January 2007 Denmark was reorganized into five regions responsible for healthcare, regional development, and operation of a number of social institutions. [3] The existing 271 municipalities were combined and reduced in number to 98.[4]. The regions are:

  • Region Hovedstaden
  • Region Sjælland
  • Region Nordjylland
  • Region Midtjylland
  • Region Syddanmark
  • Demark Regions, 2007 Click for larger image

    Demark Regions, 2007 Click for larger image

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Erslev, Kr. Danmark-Norges Len og Lensmænd 1596-1660. Københaven : Hoffensberg & Traps Etabl., 1885.
Steenstrup, Joh., Eerslev, Kr., Heise, A., Mollerup, V., Fridericia, J.A., Holm, E., Jørgensen, A.D., Neergaard, N. Danmarks Riges Historie. København : Gyldendalske Boghandel, 1907.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia (Danish), Syssel. Accessed 16 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia (Danish), Danske len. Accessed 16 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia (Danish), Danmarks regioner. Accessed 6 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia (Danish), Strukturreformen. Accessed 17 January 2023.
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