| Dønnes | |
| Herred: | yes |
| Former: | yes |
| Idnumber: | 1827 |
| County: | Nordland |
| District: | Helgeland |
| Established: | 1 July 1888 |
| Preceded: | Nesna Municipality |
| Disestablished: | 1 Jan 1962 |
| Succeeded: | Dønna Municipality |
| Demonym: | Dønnværing |
| Area Total Km2: | 88 |
| Population As Of: | 1962 |
| Population Total: | 1,428 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Coordinates: | 66.2036°N 12.5872°W |
Dønnes is a former municipality in the Helgeland traditional region in Nordland county, Norway. The 88km2 municipality existed from 1888 until its dissolution in 1962. The former municipality encompassed the northern part of the island of Dønna, the western parts of the islands of Tomma and Løkta, and over 300 smaller surrounding islands, islets, and skerries.[1] [2]
Dønnes Church was probably built here at the request of Paul Vågaskalm who was governor of Alstahaug. It was built on the site of an older church sometime between 1200 and 1300. The characteristic onion dome was added in 1866. The church organ, built by Paul Christian Brantzeg, was installed in 1866.
Dønnes was established as a municipality on 1 July 1888 when the western part of the old Nesna Municipality was separated to form a new municipality. Initially, Dønnes had a population of 1,348. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962 the municipality of Dønnes ceased to exist. The part of Dønnes on the island of Tomma (population: 80) was merged into Nesna Municipality. The remainder of Dønnes (population: 1,348) was merged with the part of Herøy Municipality on the island of Dønna (population: 19), Nordvik Municipality (population: 1,293), and the part of Nesna Municipality on the island of Løkta (population: 80) to become the new Dønna Municipality.[3]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Dønnes farm (Norse, Old: Dynjarnes) since the first Dønnes Church was built there. The first element is which is the genitive case of the old name of the island of Dønna. The island name means to "rumble" or "roar" (referring to the swell of the waves on the island). The last element is which means "headland".[4]
While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elected a mayor.[5]
The municipal council Norwegian: (Herredsstyre) of Dønnes was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:
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.
Coordinates are approximate.
Note that each map has a maximum number of listings it can display, so the map has been divided into parts consistent with the enumeration districts (tellingskrets) in the 1920 census. This map will include one farm name per farm number; other farm names or subdivision numbers may exist.
Note that in 1920, the southern portion of today's Dønnes municipality was part of Nesna municipality; the farms of that area are part of the Nesna farm map.
Tellingskrets (enumeration districts): 1, Glein (lime); 2, Løkka (red); 3, Husby skolekrets for Tomma (blue); 4, Nord-Dønnæs (purple); 5, Stavseng (green); 6, Asvær (black).
. Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt . 1905 . W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri . 16 . Kristiania, Norge . 109 . no . Oluf Rygh.