Assentoft is a Danish town on the peninsula of Jutland with a population of 3,985 in 2026.BY3: Population 1st January by urban areas, area and population density The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark The town is located eight kilometers east of Randers,Stadsarkitektens Kontor (2011). Assentoft & Drastrup: Landsbyregistreringen 2011. https://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/RandersKommune/MiljoogTeknik/stadsarkitekten/Landsbyregistering2011/AssentoftogDrastrup/ [Retrieved 2016-07-22], p. 4 and is a part of the Randers Municipality in the Central Denmark Region.
History
Prehistory In Assentoft, remains of e.g. a round barrow with a grave from the Stone Age, two round barrows from antiquity, a settlement from the late Bronze Age, and another settlement which seems to have been inhabited from the late Stone Age to the late Iron Age have been found.Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen. Fund og Fortidsminder. http://www.kulturarv.dk/fundogfortidsminder/Kort/?bbox=567835.991866584,6253046.06217988,574515.991866584,6259726.06217988&point=571175.991866584,6256386.06217988 [Retrieved 2016-07-24]
Name In place names, the last syllable, -toft, means "the adapted", and refers to an area in which a house is built. A toft was therefore potentially an area specified for settlement by a farm owner in a village. Names with -toft are mainly from the Viking Age, as there are many names with -toft in England and Normandy.Becker-Christensen, Christian; Widell, Peter (1992). Politikens NUDANSK ORDBOG. Copenhagen, Denmark: Politikens Forlag A/S. (volume 1-2), p. 1113
In settlement names with –toft, the first part of the name is often a Nordic first nameGyldendal. –toft in Den Store Danske https://denstoredanske.dk/Sprog,_religion_og_filosofi/Sprog/Navne/Stednavnes_orddele/-toft [Retrieved 2016-07-24]—in this case perhaps Asgun.Gyldendal. Assentoft in Den Store Danske. https://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Jylland/Jylland_-_byer/Assentoft [Retrieved 2016-07-22] However, in some cases, the first part refers to animals, terrain, or vegetation, and the first part of Assentoft's name is probably the Old Danish word æsking, which means "ash stand".Becker-Christensen, Christian; Widell, Peter (1992). Politikens NUDANSK ORDBOG. Copenhagen, Denmark: Politikens Forlag A/S. (volume 1-2), p. 324 An inhabitant of Assentoft is also supposedly called an Esking.Gyldendal. Essenbæk Kloster in Den Store Danske. https://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Nordens_middelalderark%C3%A6ologi/Essenb%C3%A6k_Kloster [Retrieved 2016-08-24]
Early history In the era of the Hundreds of Denmark, HaldherredNielsen, Niels; Skautrup, Peter; Mathiassen, Therkel (1963). J. P. TRAP: DANMARK. FEMTE UDGAVE. REDIGERET AF NIELS NIELSEN • PETER SKAUTRUP • THERKEL MATHIASSEN. RANDERS AMT. BIND VII, 2. Copenhagen, Denmark: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, pp. 841-842 built the church Essenbæk (Eskingbec)Nielsen, Niels; Skautrup, Peter; Mathiassen, Therkel (1963). J. P. TRAP: DANMARK. FEMTE UDGAVE. REDIGERET AF NIELS NIELSEN • PETER SKAUTRUP • THERKEL MATHIASSEN. RANDERS AMT. BIND VII, 2. Copenhagen, Denmark: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, p. 847 in approximately the 12th century CEMejlsø, Jørgen; Jørgensen, Johannes Liingaard; Kristiansen, Karsten (2011). DANSKE FORTIDSMINDER. http://www.fortidsmindeguide.dk/Essenbaek-Kirke.ma003.0.html [Retrieved 2016-07-22] in the middle of Essenbæk Parish, which was an annex of Virring Parish.Weitemeyer, Harald (1901). J. P. TRAP: KONGERIGET DANMARK. TREDJE OMARBEJDEDE UDGAVE. UNDER MEDVIRKNING AF V. FALBE-HANSEN OG H. WESTERGAARD. UDARBEJDET AF H. WEIETMEYER. FJERDE BIND. HJØRRING, THISTED, AALBORG, VIBORG OG RANDERS AMTER. Copenhagen, Denmark: Universitstsboghandler G. E. C. Gad., p. 925 Most of Essenbæk Parish was tenured to Essenbæk Abbey,Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 7 and as of March 9, 1467, Essenbæk Farm (Æskinbechgard; Essenbækgård) has stood by the church.Nordisk Forskningsinstitut (1998). Danmarks Stednavne. https://danmarksstednavne.navneforskning.ku.dk/ [Retrieved 2016-10-22]
Modern history
After the Reformation in Denmark, the king confiscated Essenbæk Abbey and its estate in 1540,Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 11 and established Assentoft (Assentofftt) in 1579.Nielsen, Niels; Skautrup, Peter; Mathiassen, Therkel (1963). J. P. TRAP: DANMARK. FEMTE UDGAVE. REDIGERET AF NIELS NIELSEN • PETER SKAUTRUP • THERKEL MATHIASSEN. RANDERS AMT. BIND VII, 2. Copenhagen, Denmark: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, pp. 847-848 When Essenbæk Farm and Essenbæk Mill (Essenbech Møllested; Essenbæk Mølle) were acquired on August 22, 1661 from the king by Hans Friis, there were 10 farms, four smallholdings and five houses in Assentoft.Laursen, Laurs Rasmus (1892). Kronens Skøder: paa afhændet og erhvervet Jordegods i Danmark, fra Reformationen til Nutiden. Copenhagen, Denmark; C. A. Reitzel, p. 101 The town's location on moraine hills reveals that agriculture was prioritized there, and cattle were probably kept on the meadows below the town.
On March 18,Hansen, Karl (1832). Danske Ridderborge, beskrevne tildeels efter utrykte Kilder. Copenhagen, Denmark; Hofboghandler Beekens Forlag, p. 102 1695, Hans Friis gave Essenbæk Home Farm (Essenbæk Ladegård) and its adjoining estates to his nephew Christian Friis,Nielsen, Niels; Skautrup, Peter; Mathiassen, Therkel (1963). J. P. TRAP: DANMARK. FEMTE UDGAVE. REDIGERET AF NIELS NIELSEN • PETER SKAUTRUP • THERKEL MATHIASSEN. RANDERS AMT. BIND VII, 2. Copenhagen, Denmark: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, p. 862 who incorporated them into the entailed estate of Tustrup on February 15, 1726.Hansen, Karl (1832). Danske Ridderborge, beskrevne tildeels efter utrykte Kilder. Copenhagen, Denmark; Hofboghandler Beekens Forlag, p. 142 In 1739, the estate owner established a school in Assentoft,Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 23 but on October 30, 1782, the king gave permission to sell the estate. Essenbæk Home Farm was sold at auction at Tustrup December 18, 1783 to Christian Kallager, and on June 11, 1785, the deed was signed.Hansen, Karl (1832). Danske Ridderborge, beskrevne tildeels efter utrykte Kilder. Copenhagen, Denmark; Hofboghandler Beekens Forlag, p. 143
On June 10,Hansen, Karl (1832). Danske Ridderborge, beskrevne tildeels efter utrykte Kilder. Copenhagen, Denmark; Hofboghandler Beekens Forlag, p. 145 1787, Kallager sold it to Peter Severin Fønss and Johan Frederik Carøe.Nielsen, Niels; Skautrup, Peter; Mathiassen, Therkel (1963). J. P. TRAP: DANMARK. FEMTE UDGAVE. REDIGERET AF NIELS NIELSEN • PETER SKAUTRUP • THERKEL MATHIASSEN. RANDERS AMT. BIND VII, 2. Copenhagen, Denmark: G. E. C. Gads Forlag, p. 848 Essenbæk Farm was sold again in 1789 to Niels Christensen Kutsch,Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 80 and during the next year, Assentoft was soldMariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 13 to the tenant farmers in the village.Mehlsen, Ejnar (1919). Essenbæk Kloster in Aarbog udgivet af Randers Amts Historiske Samfund. Årgang 13. 52-60. Randers, Denmark: Randers Amts Historiske Samfund, p. 60 When they divided it among themselves on July 15, 1790, there were nine whole farms, two half farms, four smallholdings, and four houses in Assentoft.Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, pp. 16-17
Within each pastorage, a main parish and its annex(es) were established in 1803, and were called a municipalBlangstrup, Christian (1922). Salmonsens konversationsleksikon. Anden Udgave. Bind XXI:Schinopsis-Spektrum. Copenhagen, Denmark; A/S J. H. Schultz Forlagsboghandel, p. 885 parish,Blangstrup, Christian (1922). Salmonsens konversationsleksikon. Anden Udgave. Bind XXI:Schinopsis-Spektrum. Copenhagen, Denmark; A/S J. H. Schultz Forlagsboghandel, p. 888 which from January 1, 1868Christensen, Harry (1976). Danske landkommuner 1842-1970. Viborg, Denmark; Landsarkivet for Nørrejylland, p. 5 was called parish municipality.Christensen, Leif (2010). Sogneforstanderskab – sogneforstander – sogneråd – sognerådsformand. http://helec.dk/Sogneforstanderskab%20og%20sogneraad.pdf [Retrieved 2016-08-15], p. 3 One of the municipalities was the Virring-Essenbæk Municipality, which included Assentoft.
In 1840, a new and larger school was built in the village.Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 25 The decrepit church in Essenbæk Parish was torn down in the autumn of 1865,Nielsen, Allan Berg (1984). Essenbæk gamle kirke in Årsskrift 1984. Auning, Denmark: Lokalhistorisk forening for Sønderhald Kommune og Sønderhald Egnsarkiv, p. 17 and on November 28, 1869, the consecration of a new Essenbæk Church in Assentoft occurred. At that time, the village was growing north of the highway.Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 18
In Assentoft, the Savings and Loans Bank of Virring and Essenbæk Parishes (Virring og Essenbæk Sognes Spare- og Laanekasse) was established in 1871. To provide medical assistance for its members,Newspaper article in Sønderhald Egnsarkiv (1971). Formuen var 50 rigsdaler. the Craftmen's Society of Essenbæk Parish (Essenbæk Sogns Haandværkerforening) was established on March 6 of the same year,Bestyrelsen for Essenbæk Sogns Haandværkerforening (1906). LOVE for Essenbæk Sogns Haandværkerforening. Ørsted, Denmark; Ørsted Bogtrykkeri and in the summer of 1889, the society builtByriel, Ellen (2014). Assentoft Kro in Årsskrift 2014. Auning, Denmark; Lokalhistorisk Forening for Sønderhald, p. 41 the Foundation of the Craftmen's Society of Essenbæk Parish (Essenbæk Sogns Haandværkerforenings Stiftelse), which was known as Assentoft's village hall; it included a taproom,Byriel, Ellen (2014). Assentoft Kro in Årsskrift 2014. Auning, Denmark; Lokalhistorisk Forening for Sønderhald, pp. 40-41 a gathering hall, and six freeFritfelt, Salomon J. (1956). Vort Sogns Historie i 100 Aar. http://www.vortsognshistorie.dk/record.aspx?ref=050055&hitno=&browse=yes&showfields [Retrieved 2016-08-20], p. 55 retirement homes.Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Denmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, p. 63 Assentoft Waterworks (Assentoft Vandværk) was established on May 15, 1895.Assentoft Vandværk. Historie. http://www.assentoftvand.dk/OM-VANDV%C3%86RKET/Historie.aspx [Retrieved 2016-07-22]
On January 26, 1900, the Assentoft Cooperative Society (Assentoft Brugsforening) was established; its newly built store opened for sale on July 1 of the same year.Assentoft Brugsforening (2000). Assentoft Brugsforening 100 år. Auning, Denmark; Djurs Gruppen, p. 2 In 1907, a newer and larger school was built in the village, and Essenbæk Mill, which was rebuilt after a fire on April 23, 1889,Mariager, Rasmus (1937). ESSENBÆK SOGNS HISTORIE: SAMLET OG UDGIVET AF R. Mariager. Odder, Danmark; Duplikeringsbureauet, s. 86 was torn down in 1922.Sønderhald Egnsarkiv. ESSENBÆK MØLLE STOD PÅ FORHØJNINGEN TIL HØJRE FOR VEJEN. https://www.arkiv.dk/vis/2165944 [Retrieved 2016-08-14]