Danish people
danskere

300px
H. C. Andersen • Niels Bohr • H. C. Ørsted • Sweyn Forkbeard Peter Schmeichel • Søren Kierkegaard • Tycho Brahe • Karen Blixen
Total population
c. 7 million
Regions with significant populations
Denmark 4,996,980[1]
United States 1,430,897 [2]  Canada 200,035 [3]  Brazil 140,000  Norway 52,510 [4]  Australia 50,413 [5]  Germany 50,000 [6]  Sweden 42,602 [7]  Argentina 13,000 [8]  United Kingdom 18,493 (Danish born only) [9]  Spain 8,944 [10]  France 7,000 [11]  Switzerland 4.251 [12]  New Zealand 3,507 [13]  Faroe Islands 2,956  Iceland 2,802 [14]  Ireland 809 [15]  Austria 806 [16]  Japan 500 [17]  Lebanon 400 [18]
Languages
Danish Related languages include Norwegian, Swedish, Faroese, Icelandic, and to a lesser extent, all Germanic languages.
Religion
Predominantly Lutheran; small minorities of other faiths; secular. See Religion in Denmark

Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.

The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century.^[19] Denmark has been continuously inhabited since this period and although much cultural and ethnic influence and immigration from all over the world has entered Denmark since then, Danes tend to see themselves as ethnic descendents of the early Danes mentioned in the sources.

Since the formulation of a Danish national identity in the 19th century the defining criteria for being Danish has been speaking the Danish language and identifying with Denmark as a homeland. Danish national identity was built on a basis of peasant culture and Lutheran theology, theologian N. F. S. Grundtvig and his popular movement played a prominent part in the process.^[20]

Today the main criterion for being considered a Dane is having Danish citizenship, although also people with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity, living outside of Denmark such as emigrants, descendants of emigrants or members of the Danish ethnic minority in Southern Schleswig, can be considered Danes under a wider definition taking into consideration cultural self-identification.

Origins[link]

The first mentions of "Danes" are recorded in the mid 6th century by historians Procopius (Greek: δάνοι) and Jordanes (danī), who both refer to a tribe related to the Suetidi and which inhabited the peninsula of Jutland, the province of Scania and the isles in between. Frankish annalists of the 8th century often refer to Danish kings. The Bobbio Orosius distinguishes between South Danes inhabiting Jutland and North Danes inhabiting the isles and the province of Scania.

The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century.^[21] Between c. 960 and the early 980s, Harald Bluetooth established a kingdom in the lands of the Danes which stretched from Jutland to Skåne. Around the same time, he received a visit from a German missionary who, according to legend,^[22] survived an ordeal by fire, which convinced Harold to convert to Christianity.

In the following years saw the Danish Viking expansion, which incorporated Norway and Northern England into the Danish kingdom. After the death of Canute the Great in 1035, England broke away from Danish control and Denmark fell into disarray for some time. Vikings from Norway raided Denmark sporadically. Canute's nephew Sweyn Estridson (1020–74) re-established strong royal Danish authority and built a good relationship with the archbishop of Bremen — at that time the Archbishop of all of Scandinavia.

The Reformation, which originated in the German lands in the early 16th century from the ideas of Martin Luther (1483–1546), had a considerable impact on Denmark. The Danish Reformation started in the mid-1520s. Some Danes wanted access to the Bible in their own language. In 1524 Hans Mikkelsen and Christiern Pedersen translated the New Testament into Danish; it became an instant best-seller. Those who had traveled to Wittenberg in Saxony and come under the influence of the teachings of Luther and his associates included Hans Tausen, a Danish monk in the Order of St John Hospitallers. The Dano-Norwegian Kingdom grew wealthy during the 16th century, largely because of the increased traffic through the Øresund, which Danes could tax because Denmark controlled both sides of the Sound. After a failed war with Sweden, the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 removed the areas of on the Scandinavian peninsula from Danish control, thus establishing the boundaries between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden that still exist today. In the centuries after this loss of territory the populations of the Scanian lands, who had previously been considered Danes, came to be fully considered Swedes. Later in the early 19th century Denmark suffered a defeat in the Napoleonic wars Denmark lost control over Norway and territories in what is now Northern Germany. The political and economic defeat ironically sparked what is known as the Danish golden age in which a Danish national identity first came to be fully formed.The Danish liberal and national movements gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy on June 5, 1849. The growing bourgeoisie had demanded a share in government, and in an attempt to avert the sort of bloody revolution occurring elsewhere in Europe, Frederick VII gave in to the demands of the citizens. A new constitution emerged, separating the powers and granting the franchise to all adult males, as well as freedom of the press, religion, and association. The king became head of the executive branch.

Danishness[link]

Danishness (danskhed) is the concept on which contemporary Danish national and ethnic identity is based. It is a set of values formed through the historic trajectory of the formation of the Danish nation. The ideology of Danishness emphasises the notion of historical connection between the population and the territory of Denmark and the relation between the 1000-year old Danish monarchy and the modern Danish state, the 19th century national romantic idea of "the people" (folk), a view of Danish society as homogeneous and socially egalitarian as well as strong cultural ties to other Scandinavian nations.^[23]

Importantly, since its formulation Danish identity has not been linked to a particular racial or biological heritage, as many other ethno-national identities have. Grundtvig for example emphasised the Danish language and the emotional relation to and identification with the nation of Denmark as the defining criteria of Danishness. This cultural definition of ethnicity has been suggested to be one of the reasons that Denmark was able to integrate their earliest ethnic minorities of Jewish and Polish origins into the Danish ethnic group. Jewishness for example was not seen as being incompatible with a Danish ethnic identity as long as the most important cultural practices and ideologies were shared. This inclusive ethnicity has in turn been described as the background for the relative lack of virulent anti-semitism in Denmark and the rescue of the Danish Jews^[24]

This ideology of Danishness has been politically important in the formulation of Danish political relations with the EU, which has been met with considerable resistance in the Danish population, and in recent reactions in the Danish public to the increasing influence of immigration.^[25][26]

Demography[link]

According to the Danish statistics institute, approximately five million people of Danish origin live in Denmark today. In this context "Danish origin" is defined as being born to parents who are Danish citizens, and the number is arrived at by subtracting from the total population (5,564,249) those who are born abroad to non-citizens who are themselves born abroad (called immigrants), and those who are born in Denmark to parents who are either immigrants or who have foreign citizenship.^[1]

Danish citizenship is granted to anyone who has one parent of Danish citizenship, whether the child is born in or outside of Denmark. Citizens of Greenland and the Faroe islands are considered Danish citizens for all purposes. Those who do not achieve Danish citizenship by birth (or by Adoption) can only receive Danish citizenship through decree of law. Danish citizenship is automatically lost if one applies for foreign citizenship or when a 22 year old child of Danish citizens has never lived in Denmark and has not formally applied for Danish citizenship.

Danish diaspora[link]

A minority of approx. 50,000 Danish-identifying German citizens live in Southern Schleswig in Germany, a former Danish territory, forming around 10% of the local population. In Denmark, the latter group is often referred to as De danske syd for grænsen (Literally: The Danish south of the border), the Danish-minded ("De Dansksindede") or sydslesvigere (South Schleswigers).

Due to immigration there are considerable populations with Danish roots outside of Denmark in countries such as USA, Canada and Argentina. Some of these communities, such as Solvang, California, Racine, Wisconsin and Necochea, Argentina maintain cultural ties to Denmark, but these populations are not considered to be Danes for official purposes by the Danish state, and heritage alone can not be used to claim Danish citizenship, as it can in some European nations.

The Danish nation in a political context[link]

Det danske folk (The Danish people) as a concept, played an important role in 19th century ethnic nationalism and refers to self-identification rather than a legal status. Use of the term is most often restricted to a historical context; the historic German-Danish struggle regarding the status of the Duchy of Schleswig vis-à-vis a Danish nation-state. It describes people of Danish nationality, both in Denmark and elsewhere. Most importantly, ethnic Danes in both Denmark proper and the former Danish Duchy of Schleswig. Excluded from this definition are people from the formerly Norwegian Faroe Islands and Greenland as well as members of the German minority as well as members of other ethnic minorities.

The term should not be confused with the legal concept of nationality, danske statsborgere (Danish nationals) i.e. individuals holding Danish citizenship.

See also[link]

• List of Danes
• List of Germanic peoples
• Danish Americans
• Scylding
• Danelaw
• Viking Age
• Uí Ímair
• Kingdom of York
• Kingdom of Dublin
• Culture of Denmark

References[link]

Denmark portal

v t e  Denmark topics History Archaeology Viking Age Kalmar Union Reformation Colonization of the Americas Empire Scandinavian Monetary Union Occupation during WWII Rescue of the Danish Jews Postal history Geography Regions Municipalities Former counties Cities Islands Danish straits Rivers Trees Extreme points Government & Politics Constitution Prime Minister List Folketing Council of State Courts Foreign relations Political parties Social Democrats Social Liberal Party Conservative People's Party Socialist People's Party Danish People's Party Venstre Red-Green Alliance Elections Law Military Monarchy List Family tree Succession Crown Regalia Order of the Elephant Order of the Dannebrog Royal residences Economy National Bank Stock Exchange Krone Taxation Companies Communications Transport Tourism Society People List Demographics Crime Education LGBT rights Religion Culture Language Cinema Cuisine Literature Folklore Modern Breakthrough Music List Art List Architecture Photography Public holidays Sport Jante Law Scout Council Symbols Flag Coat of arms National anthem Royal anthem Category Portal WikiProject

This is a list of well known Danes.

Actors[link]

• Gry Bay, (1974–), actress
• Rasmus Bjerg, (1976–), actor,archeologist

• Lars Bom,actor
• Poul Bundgaard, actor
• Anna Bård, (1980–), model, actress
• Jesper Christensen, actor
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, actor
• Karl Dane, (1886–1934), silent film actor, comedian
• Hjalte Flagstad, actor
• Olaf Fønss, (1882–1949), silent film actor
• Morten Grunwald, actor
• Caroline Halle-Müller, (1755–1826), actor, singer and dancer.
• Holger Juul Hansen
• Jean Hersholt, (1886–1956) film actor (Academy Awards Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award)
• Iben Hjejle, (1971–), actress
• Bodil Ipsen, (1889–1964), actress
• Torben Jensen, (1944–), actor
• Katja K, (1968–), ex-adult performer, actor
• Nikolaj Lie Kaas, actor
• Thure Lindhardt, (1974-), actor
• Gordon Kennedy, (1968–), actor
• Bodil Kjer, (1917–2003), actress
• Lau Lauritzen Jr., (1910–1977), director, actor, producer
• Julie Lund, (1979–), actress
• Mia Lyhne, actress
• Mads Mikkelsen, actor
• Viggo Mortensen, (1958–), actor (Half Danish)
• Birthe Neumann, actress
• Asta Nielsen, (1883–1972), silent film star, actress
• Brigitte Nielsen, actress, former wife of Sylvester Stallone
• Connie Nielsen, actress
• Ghita Nørby, actress
• Jens Okking, actor
• Dirch Passer, actor
• John Hahn-Petersen, actor
• Ulf Pilgaard, actor
• Søren Pilmark, actor
• Valdemar Psilander, (1884–1917), silent film star
• Poul Reichhardt, actor
• Kirsten Rolffes, actress
• Asbjørn Riis, actor, professional wrestler
• Lisbeth Cathrine Amalie Rose, (1738–1793), actress
• Jonas Schmidt, actor
• Ib Schønberg, actor
• Ove Sprogøe, actor
• Paprika Steen, actress
• Karl Stegger, actor
• Inger Stender, (1912–1989), actress
• Yutte Stensgaard, actress
• Ebba Thomsen, (1887–1973), silent movie actor
• Ulrich Thomsen, actor
• Sven-Ole Thorsen, actor

Archaeologists[link]

• Frans Blom
• Peter Oluf Brøndsted, (1780–1842), classic archaeologist
• Peter Glob, (1911–1985)
• Erik Holtved, (1899–1981), Greenland
• Eigil Knuth, Greenland
• Therkel Mathiassen, (1892–1967), Arctic
• Georg F. L. Sarauw, (1862–1928)
• Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, (1788–1865), archaeologist
• Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae, (1821–1885), archeologist, historian and politician

Architects and designers[link]

• Rigmor Andersen, 1903–1995, furniture designer
• Karen Clemmensen, (1917-2001), architect
• Vilhelm Dahlerup, (1826–1907), architect
• Inger Exner, (1926–), architect
• Johannes Exner, (1926–), architect
• Jørgen Gammelgaard, (1938–1991), furniture designer
• Kaj Gottlob, (1887–1976), architect and furniture designer
• Jan Gehl, (1947–), architect, urban planner
• Ragna Grubb, (1903-1961), architect
• Andreas Hallander (1755–1828), Golden Age architect
• Christian Frederik Hansen, (1756–1845), architect
• Christian Hansen, (1803–1883), architect active mainly in Athens and Copenhagen
• Theophilus Hansen, (1813–1891), architect active in Athens and Vienna
• Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, (1735–1799), Golden Age architect
• Malene Hauxner, (b. 1942), architect
• Piet Hein
• Poul Henningsen, (1894–1967), author, architect, designer
• Peter Hvidt (1916–1986), architect and furniture designer
• Anna Maria Indrio (1943-), architect
• Bjarke Ingels, (1974–) architect
• Andreas Jeppe Iversen, (1888–1979), furniture designer
• Arne Jacobsen, (1902–1971), architect
• Grete Jalk, (1920–2006), furniture designer
• Georg Jensen, (1866–1935), silversmith, designer
• Jacob Jensen, (1926-), designer
• Jens Jensen, (1860–1951 ), landscape architect
• Timothy Jacob Jensen, (1962-), designer
• Finn Juhl, (1912–1989)
• Jørgen Kastholm, (1938–2007), furniture designer
• Bodil Kjær, (1932-), architect and furniture designer
• Jacob Kjær (1896–1957), furniture designer
• Hanne Kjærholm (1930–2009), architect
• Jens Christian Kofoed, (1864–1941), architect
• Eva Koppel, (1916–2006), architect
• Henning Larsen, architect
• Vilhelm Lauritzen, (1894–1984) architect and furniture designer
• Aksel Bender Madsen, (1916–2000), furniture designer
• Dorte Mandrup-Poulsen, (b. 1961), architect
• Ferdinand Meldahl, (1827–1908), architect
• Borge Mogensen, (1914–1972), designer
• Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, (1907–1993), architect and furniture designer
• Hans Olsen, (1919–1992), furniture designer
• Johan Martin Quist (1755–1818), Golden age architect
• da:Soren Rasmussen, (1954-), architect, designer
• Steen Eiler Rasmussen, (1898–1990), architect
• Lise Roel, (1928–), architect
• Kasper Salto, (1957–), designer
• Jens Martin Skibsted, (1970–), designer
• Lene Tranberg, (1956–), architect, co-founder of Lundgaard & Tranberg
• Susanne Ussing, (1940–1998), architect
• Jan Utzon, (1944–), architect
• Jørn Utzon, (1918–2008), architect, Sydney Opera House
• Kim Utzon, (1957–), architect
• Arne Vodder, (1926–2009), furniture designer and architect
• Hans J. Wegner, (1914–2007), designer
• Lone Wiggers (b. 1963), architect
• Vilhelm Wohlert, (1920–2007), architect, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
• Kurt Østervig, (1912–1986), furniture designer

Artists[link]

• Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard, (1744–1809), painter
• Else Alfelt, (1910–1974), painter
• Merete Barker, (1944–), painter
• Wilhelm Bendz, (1804–1832), painter
• Albert Bertelsen, (1921–), painter
• Martin Bigum, (1966–), painter
• Ejler Bille, (1910–2004), painter
• Herman Wilhelm Bissen, (1798–1868), sculptor
• Lars Bo, (1924–1999), etcher
• Peter Brandes, (1944–), painter, sculptor and ceramic artist
• Emil Bærentzen (1799–1868), painter and lithographer
• Anders Bundgaard (1864–1937), sculptor
• Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen (1863–1945), sculptor
• Poul Simon Christiansen (1855–1933), painter
• Carl Dahl, (1812–1865), painter
• Heinrich Dohm (1875–1940), painter
• Anton Dorph (1831–1914), painter
• Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, painter
• Heinrich Eddelien (1802–1852), painter
• Gottfred Eickhoff (1902–1982)
• Olafur Eliasson, sculptor, installation, Photography
• Michael Elmgreen, (1961–), installations
• Adam Fischer, (1888–1968), sculptor
• Wilhelm Freddie, (1909–1995), painter
• Hermann Ernst Freund (1786–1840), sculptor
• Albert Gottschalk, (1866–1906), painter
• Hans Jørgen Hammer (1815–1882), painter
• Vilhelm Hammershoi, painter
• Aksel Hansen, sculptor
• Constantin Hansen, (1804–1880) painter
• Heinrich Hansen, (1821–1890) painter
• Peter Hansen, (1868–1928) painter
• Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen, (1912–1999), painter, illustrator and church decorator
• Henry Heerup, (1907–1993), painter
• Jeppe Hein, (1974–), installations
• Gerhard Henning, (1880–1967), sculptor
• Frants Henningsen, (1850–1908), artist
• Horder, (12th century), stonemason and sculptor
• Paul Høm, (1905–1994), artist and church decorator
• Peter Ilsted, (1861–1933), painter/etcher
• Robert Jacobsen, (1912–1993), sculptor and painter
• Johan Laurentz Jensen, (1800–1856), painter
• Jens Adolf Jerichau, (1818–1883), sculptor
• Viggo Johansen, (1851–1935), painter
• Asger Jorn, (1914–1973), painter
• Jens Juel, (1745–1802), painter mainly known for portraits
• Per Kirkeby, (1938–), painter
• Jesper Knudsen, (1964–), painter
• Peder Severin Krøyer, (1851–1909), painter
• Christen Købke (1810–1848, painter
• John Kørner (1967–), painter
• Poul Lange graphic designer, artist, photographer
• Alhed Larsen (1872–1927), painter
• Emanuel Larsen, (1823–1859), painter
• Johannes Larsen, (1867–1961), painter
• Harald Leth (1899–1986), painter
• Christian August Lorentzen (1749–1828), painter
• Frederik Christian Lund (1826–1901), painter
• Vilhelm Lundstrøm (1893–1950), painter
• Christine Løvmand (1803–1872), painter
• Karl Madsen (1855–1938), painter and art historian
• Wilhelm Marstrand, painter
• Richard Mortensen, (1910–1993) painter
• Adam August Müller (1811–1844), painter
• Christian Mølsted (1862–1930), painter
• Knud Nellemose (1908–1997), sculptor
• Emil Normann (1798–1881)
• Kai Nielsen, (1882–1924), sculptor
• Erik Ortvad, (1917–2008), painter
• Carl-Henning Pedersen, painter
• Tal R, (1967–) painter
• Svend Rathsack (1885–1941], sculptor
• Martinus Rørbye (1803–1848), painter
• Hans Smidth (1839–1917), painter
• Povl Søndergaard (1905–1986), sculptor
• Jakob Martin Strid (1972-), cartoonist
• Christine Swane (1876–1960), painter
• Sigurd Swane (1879–1973), painter
• Anna Syberg (1870–1914), painter
• Fritz Syberg ( 1862–1939), painter and illustrator
• Carl Frederik Sørensen, (1818–1879)
• Bertel Thorvaldsen, (1770–1844), sculptor
• Kurt Trampedach, painter
• Johannes Wiedewelt (1731–1802), scupltor
• Gunnar Westman (1915–1985), sculptor
• Christian Zacho (1843–1913), painter

Business people[link]

• Hans Niels Andersen, (1852–1937), founder of the East Asiatic Company
• Constantin Brun (1746–1836), merchant, royal administrator of trade on the Danish West Indies
• Ole Kirk Christiansen, (1891–1958), inventor of Lego
• Mads Clausen, founder of Danfoss Industries
• Janus Friis, Skype, Kazaa, Joost and minor companies
• Søren Hjorth (1801–1870), inventor
• Henning Holck-Larsen and Søren Kristian Toubro, founders of Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro
• J. C. Jacobsen (1811–1887), founder of Carlsberg Brewing
• William S. Knudsen, industrialist (president, General Motors) in USA
• Martin Lindstrom (1970–) marketing advisor
• Arnold Peter Møller (1876–1965), founder of A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group, the largest Danish company.
• Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (1913–2012), shipping magnate
• Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen (1878–1964)
• Charles E. Sorensen (1881–1968), pioneering industrialist at Ford in USA
• Carl Frederik Tietgen (1829–1901), financier and industrialist, (co-)founder of many large Danish companies
• Ole Henriksen (1951–present) Cosmetologist for Hollywood stars.

Chefs and restaurateurs[link]

• Bo Bech, (1972–)
• Søren Gericke, (1947–)
• Sven and Lene Grønlykke
• Rasmus Kofoed, (1974–)
• Erwin Lauterbach. (1948–)
• Claus Meyer, (1963–)
• René Redzepi, (1977–), chef, co-founder of Noma
• Lertchai Treetawatchaiwong

Comedians[link]

• Anders Bircow, comedian, musician
• Rasmus Bjerg, comedian
• Victor Borge, (1909–2000), comedian, musician
• Casper Christensen, (1968–), comedian
• Drengene fra Angora, comedy trio
• Thomas Eje, comedian, musician, touring in U.S. as Tom Dane
• Jan Gintberg, (1963–), comedian
• Lars Hjortshøj, (1967–), comedian
• Frank Hvam, (1970–), comedian
• Rune Klan, comedian
• Simon Kvamm, (1975–), comedian, musician
• Morten Lindberg, comedian also known as "Master Fatman"
• Anders Matthesen, (1975–), comedian
• De Nattergale, comedy trio
• Lasse Rimmer, (1972–), comedian
• Jonatan Spang, comedian
• Sandi Toksvig, comedian in the UK
• Mads Vangsø, comedian
• Mick Øgendahl comedian

Criminals[link]

• Peter Adler Alberti, abuse of power as Minister of Justice by impeachment and embezzlement
• Stein Bagger, the IT Factory Fraud Case
• The Blekinge Street Gang, robbery, financial aid to PFLP
• Peter Brixtofte, abuse of power as Mayor of Farum
• Peter Lundin, four cases of murder
• Erik Ninn-Hansen, abuse of power as Minister of Justice by impeachment
• Palle Sørensen, murder of four Police Officers

Dancers[link]

• Frank Andersen (b. 15 April 1953), Royal Danish Ballet: ballet dancer and ballet master
• August Bournonville, (1805–1879) ballet dancer and choreographer
• Erik Bruhn, (1929–1986) ballet dancer
• Camilla Dallerup, (b.1974) British based Danish ballroom dancer
• Anine Frölich, (1762–1784), ballet dancer
• Nikolaj Hubbe, (b. 1967) Royal Danish Ballet balletmaster and former New York City Ballet principal dancer
• Palle Jacobsen (1940–2009), ballet dancer and ballet master
• Henning Kronstam, dancer, balletmaster, theatre director, Royal Danish Ballet
• Nilas Martins, (living) New York City Ballet principal dancer
• Peter Martins, (b. 1946) New York City Ballet balletmaster in chief, choreographer and former ballet dancer

Economists[link]

• Tim Bollerslev (born 1958), economist and professor at American institutions
• Ernst Immanuel Cohen Brandes (1844–1892), economist and editor
• Johan Christian Fabricius (1745–1808), economist and entomologist

Explorers[link]

• Vitus Bering, (1680–1741)
• Hans Egede
• Peter Freuchen, (1886–1957), Greenland
• Thomas Vilhelm Garde, (1859–1926), Greenland
• Wilhelm August Graah, (1793–1863), Greenland
• Gustav Frederik Holm, (1849–1940), Greenland
• Erik Holtved
• Godske Lindenov, (died 1612), Greenland
• Conrad Malte-Brun, (1755–1826), Danish-born French geographer
• Ejnar Mikkelsen, (1880–1971), Greenland
• Harald Moltke, (1871–1960), Greenland
• Jens Munk
• Ludvig Mylius-Erichsen, (1872–1907), Greenland
• Ole Olufsen, (1865–1929), Central Asia
• Didrik Pining, (c. 1428–1491), Greenland
• Hans Pothorst, (c. 1440–c. 1490), Greenland
• Knud Rasmussen, (1879–1933), the Arctic
• Barclay Raunkiær, (1889–1915), Arabia
• Carl Ryder, (1858–1923), Greenland
• Peder Olsen Walløe, (1716–1793), Greenland

Fictional Danes[link]

• Dani Beck
• Beowulf
• King Claudius
• Holger Danske
• Gertrude
• King Hamlet
• Prince Hamlet
• Annika Hansen
• The Little Mermaid
• Petra
• Skærmtrolden Hugo
• Thumbelina

Film directors[link]

• Bille August, (1948–), director
• Erik Balling, (1924–2005), director
• Susanne Bier, (1960–), director, writer
• August Blom, (1869–1947), director, producer
• Ole Bornedal, director
• Carl Theodor Dreyer, film director
• Peter Elfelt, (1866–1931), photographer, silent film director
• Per Fly
• Bodil Ipsen, (1889–1964), director, actress
• Anders Thomas Jensen
• Lau Lauritzen Jr., (1910–1977), director, actor, producer
• Jørgen Leth, filmmaker and poet
• Nils Malmros, filmmaker
• Nicolas Winding Refn, director
• Mikael Salomon, director, writer
• Lone Scherfig, (1959–), director
• Lars von Trier, (1956–), director
• Thomas Vinterberg, (1969–), director

Historians[link]

• Saxo Grammaticus, historian

Linguists[link]

• Ada Adler, (1878–1946)
• Una Canger linguist
• Christian Falster, (1690–1752), poet and philologist
• Eli Fischer-Jørgensen, (1911–2010), phonetician
• Louis Hjelmslev, (1899–1955)
• Otto Jespersen, (1860–1943)
• Johan Nicolai Madvig, (1804–1886)
• Axel Olrik, (1864–1917)
• Holger Pedersen (linguist), (1867–1953), linguist
• Rasmus Rask - linguist
• Jørgen Rischel linguist
• Kim Ryholt philologist and egyptologist
• Vilhelm Thomsen, (1842–1927)
• Karl Verner, (1846–1896), linguist