Bjarkøy

Bjarkøy (until 1887 named Sand) was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The southernmost part of Senja (the peninsula Senjehesten) was transferred from Bjarkøy to Tranøy January 1, 1964.

The municipality is spread across several smaller islands, the biggest being the northern side of Grytøya (the southern part belongs to Harstad). The island of Bjarkøy is the biggest hamlet, also housing the municipal seat.

[edit] The name

The municipality is named after the island Bjarkøya (Norse Bjark(ar)øy). The first element is (the genitive case of) björk f 'birch', the last element is øy f 'island'. (The name of the island, since it is an old trading place, is maybe inspired by the name of the old and well-known town of Birka in Sweden, which has the same meaning^{[citation needed]}.)

Until 1887 the municipality was called Sand (after the churchsite).

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986) - but it has old roots. (See the coat-of-arms of the county Troms.)

[edit] History

This is old Viking territory, and was a chieftain seat during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. Among the more famous chieftains you find Tore Hund, who killed Norway's Patron Saint, Saint Olav in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. In 1323 the chieftain seat was raided and burned by carelian warriors.

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