alderman

An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council member elected by voters. Etymology The title is derived from the Old English title of ealdorman, which literally means "elder man", and which was used by the chief nobles presiding over shires. Similar titles exist in other Germanic languages, such as in Swedish, in Danish and Low German, in West Frisian, in Dutch, and in German. Finnish also has , which was borrowed from Swedish. All of these words mean "elder man" or "wise man". Usage by country Australia Many local government bodies used the term "alderman" in Australia. As in the way local councils have been modernised in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the term alderman has been discontinued in a number of places. For example, in the state of Queensland before 1994, rural "shires" elected "councillors" and a "chairman", while "cities" elected a "mayor" and "aldermen". Since 1994, all local and regional government areas in Queensland elect a "mayor" and "councillors". (Australian capital cities usually have a Lord Mayor). An example of the use of the term alderman is evident in the City of Adelaide. Aldermen were elected from the electors in all the wards.