Wikipedia

Dønna Municipality

Dønna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the island municipality is the village of Solfjellsjøen. Other villages include Bjørn, Dønnes, Hestad, Sandåker, and Vandve. The main island of Dønna is connected to the neighboring Herøy Municipality to the south by the Åkviksundet Bridge.

Dønna Municipality
Dønna kommune
Municipality
Flag of Dønna Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Dønna Municipality
Coat of arms
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Dønna within Nordland
Dønna within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°05′29″N 12°31′33″E / 66.09139°N 12.52583°E / 66.09139; 12.52583
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictHelgeland
Established1 Jan 1962
 • Preceded byNordvik Municipality, Dønnes Municipality, and other areas
Administrative centreSolfjellsjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2024)John-Erik S. Johansen (Ap)
Area
 • Total
192.57 km2 (74.35 sq mi)
 • Land186.41 km2 (71.97 sq mi)
 • Water6.16 km2 (2.38 sq mi)  3.2%
 • Rank#305 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
855.1 m (2,805 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
1,427
 • Rank#305 in Norway
 • Density7.4/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +0.5%
DemonymDønnværing[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1827[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 193-square-kilometre (75 sq mi) municipality is the 305th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Dønna Municipality is the 305th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,427. The municipality's population density is 7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.5% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

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Municipal history

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The municipality of Dønna was established on 1 January 1962 due to the work of the Schei Committee. The new municipality was created by merging these areas:

The borders of Dønna Municipality have not changed since that time.[7]

Name

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The municipality is named after the island of Dønna (Old Norse: Dyn). The name is probably derived from the Old Norse verb dynja which means to "rumble" or "roar" (referring to the swell of the waves on the island).[8]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 29 May 1981. The official blazon is "Or a schnecke azure from base sinister to dexter" (Norwegian: Delt av gull og blått ved virvelsnitt). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line called a schnecke (a swirling clockwise spiral design that is looks like a wave). The field located above the line has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The tincture below the line is blue. The arms are a canting symbol for the municipality since the Norwegian word dønning means "wave" or "swell". The arms were designed by Odd Fjordholm.[9][10][11]

Churches

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The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Dønna Municipality. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Dønna Municipality
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
DønnaDønnes ChurchDønnes13th century
Hæstad ChurchHestad1912
Løkta ChurchSandåker1968
Nordvik ChurchNordvik (near Solfjellsjøen)1877
Vandve ChurchVandve1956

Economy

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Much of the industry focuses on fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing. There is also some agriculture, tourism, and some public services.

Government

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Dønna Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[12] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Dønna Municipality is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Dønna kommunestyre 2023–2027 [13]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2019–2023 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Red Party (Rødt) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2015–2019 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 5
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2011–2015 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2007–2011 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2003–2007 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
 Cross-party Election (Tverrpolitisk Folkevalgte)2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 1999–2003 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1995–1999 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Pensioners' Party and free voters (Pensjonister og frie velgere) 1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1991–1995 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1987–1991 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1983–1987 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Dønna cross-party list (Dønna Tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1979–1983 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1975–1979 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1971–1975 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1967–1971 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1963–1967 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:21

Mayors

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The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Dønna Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[26]

  • 1962–1963: Fridtjof Leonhard Hjortdahl (H)[27]
  • 1963–1975: Hans Gården (H)
  • 1975–1979: Gunnar Horsgård (Sp)
  • 1979–1983: Hans Gården (H)
  • 1983–1987: Helge Emilsen (Ap)
  • 1987–1991: Finn Hjortdahl (H)
  • 1991–1995: Steinar Horsgård (Sp)
  • 1995–2003: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
  • 2003–2007: Steinar Horsgård (Sp)
  • 2007–2011: Ingunn Laumann (Ap)
  • 2011–2015: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
  • 2015–2019: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)
  • 2019–2023: Nils Jenssen (Sp)
  • 2024–present: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)[28]

Geography

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Dønna is located in the outer, coastal part of Helgeland which also consists of Leirfjord Municipality, Alstahaug Municipality, and Herøy Municipality. The municipality is made up of a large archipelago consisting of islands, islets, and reefs. The three largest islands in the municipality are Dønna, Løkta, and Vandve. The Åsværet islands (and the Åsvær Lighthouse) lie in the western part of the municipality. The island municipality is situated at the mouth of the Ranfjorden. The highest point in the municipality is the 855.1-metre (2,805 ft) tall mountain Dønnmannen on the island of Dønna.[1]

View from Dønnesfjellet, Dønna. The strandflaten lowland in the foreground and several islands with unique mountain formations visible in the distance

Farms of Dønna

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Historically, the land of Dønna was divided up into named farms. These farms were used in census and tax records and are useful for genalogical research.

Map of farms

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Note: Coordinates are approximate. The map has been divided into parts consistent with the enumeration districts (Norwegian: tellingskrets) in the 1920 census of Norway. As this census was taken in 1920, and the boundaries of the municipality changed in 1962, this map is not consistent with modern enumeration districts. This map will include one farm name per farm number; other farm names or subdivision numbers may exist.

Dønna municipality, tellingskrets 1-5, from 1920 census
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
4km
2.5miles
25
25 Vandve kapell
24
24 Nordvik kirke
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23 Hæstad kirke
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22 Løkta kapell
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21 Dønnes kirke
20
19
18
18
17
17
16
15
15
14
14
13
12
12
11
10
9
8
7
7
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1
Tellingskrets (enumeration districts): 1, Glein (lime); 2, Løkka (red); 3, Husby skolekrets for Tomma (blue); 4, Nord-Dønnæs (purple); 5, Stavseng (black). List of farms:
1
1: Skeim
2
2: Vaag
3
13: Sigerstad
4
14: Glein
5
15: Breivik
6
16: Kobberdal
7
17: Sandaaker
8
18: Sund
9
19: Hov
10
20: Husby
11
10: Rølvaag
12
11: Dønnes
13
12: Aakvik
14
3: Aakerøen
15
4: Aaker
16
5: Bø
17
6: Stavseng
18
7: Stavsengvik
19
8: Titternes
20
9: Volnes
21
Dønnes kirke (church), likely built in the 1200s; first record in 1308
22
Løkta kapell (chapel), built 1968
23
Hæstad kirke (church), built 1913
24
Nordvik kirke (church), built 1871
25
Vandve kapell (chapel), built 1968

Farm names and numbers

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Following are the farms in Dønna municipality, as they are listed in O. Rygh's series "Norske Gaardnavne" ("Norwegian Farm Names"), the Nordland volume of which was published in 1905.

See also: Digital version of Norske Gaardnavne - Nordland (in Norwegian)

The farm numbers are used in some census records, and numbers that are near each other indicate that those farms are geographically proximate. Handwritten Norwegian sources, particularly those prior to 1800, may use variants on these names. For recorded variants before 1723, see the digital version of O. Rygh.

Farm names were often used as part of Norwegian names, in addition to the person's given name and patronymic or inherited surname. Some families retained the farm name, or toponymic, as a surname when they emigrated, so in those cases tracing a surname may tell you specifically where in Norway the family was from. This tradition began to change in the mid to late 19th century, and inherited surnames were codified into law in 1923.

If you can't find an entry when you are searching for a word that starts with AE, Ae, O, A or Aa, it may have been transcribed from one of those letters not used in English. Try looking for it under the Norwegian letter; Æ, Ø, and Å appear at the end of the Norwegian alphabet.

Farm NameFarm Number
Skeim1
Kamman, Vaag2
Aakerøen3
Aaker4
Bø5
Stavseng6
Stavsengvik7
Titternes8
Volnes9
Rølvaag10
Dønnes11
Aakvik12
Sigerstad13
Glein14
Breivik15
Kobberdal16
Sandaaker17
Sund18
Hov19
Husby20

Notable people

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Anton Chr. Bang

References

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  1. 1 2 "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ↑ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ↑ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
  5. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ↑ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  8. ↑ "Helgelands stedsnavn". Historisk tidsskrift (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Norske historiske forening: 70. 1871. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  9. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Dønna, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 31 July 1981. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  16. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ↑ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  27. ↑ "Det konstituerende møte i den nye Dønna kommune". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 21 October 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  28. ↑ "Ordfører - perioden 2023 - 2027" (in Norwegian). Dønna kommune. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Petter Dass" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. VI (9th ed.). 1878. p. 831.
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