Svendborg is a town on the island of Funen in south-central Denmark, in the Region of Southern Denmark, with an urban population of 27,593 as of January 2026. It is the seat of Svendborg Municipality and Funen second largest city, and it was granted market town privileges in 1253. The shipping company that became A.P. Moller-Maersk, the largest container ship operator in the world, traces its origin to the town.
Facts
Founding Year Founding Year Population Estimate Year Elevation (m) Latitude55.059722 degrees north 1 FAQs
What is the earliest record of Svendborg and where does its name come from?
The first record of Svendborg dates from 1229 and its name is thought to mean pig fortification.
The first recorded mention of Svendborg is from 1229, in a deed of gift by Valdemar the Victorious, who calls the fortification Swinæburgh. The name is thought to combine svin, meaning pig, and borg, meaning fortification.
Sources
1. Svendborg (Wikidata)
P1082 (population)
population 27,210 (2019)
P625 (coordinate location)
latitude 55.059722, longitude 10.61
P2044 (elevation above sea level)
elevation 14 m
P1082 (population), P585 (point in time)
population 27210 (2019)
View the Source2. Svendborg (Wikipedia)
Source text, founding-year: 1229
The first recorded mention of Svendborg occurred in 1229 in a deed of gift by Valdemar the Victorious, where he refers to the fortification as Swinæburgh.
- In Group: Cities of Northern Europe (World), Wikipedia; part-of country and UN M49 subregion
View the Source3. Wikipedia (Danish): Svendborg
Wikipedia (Danish)Article text: founding statementQuote, Article text: founding statement
Byen blev grundlagt i 1200-tallet og fejrede i 2003 sin 750-års fødselsdag.
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