Grietenij

A grietenij was a forerunner to the "gemeente" or municipality in Frisia, particularly in 
Friesland, and also in Groningen which are now a part of the Netherlands. From the end of the 
16th century until 1851, there were a total of 30 "grietenijen" in Friesland. The term "grietenij" means the 
administrative district of a "grietman". The term "grietman" means a man who greets. The 
"grietenijen" were found in the counties of Oostergo, Westergo and Zevenwouden. In the municipality law in 1851, the term "grietenij" was changed to gemeente or municipality, and the term "grietman" was changed to "burgemeester" or mayor. This resulted in consistent terms being used throughout the Netherlands.
List of "grietenijen".
The list contains the names of the thirty "grietenijen" from the 18th century.