An ordinary freeman of Anglo-Saxon England, who normally held between one and five hides of land (1 hide = c.120 acres). By the 10th-c, wealthy ceorls could become thegns; but after the Norman Conquest many ceorls lost personal freedom. The Middle English derivative churl has the sense of serf or ill-bred person.
Ceorl fought in the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen on March 2, 3019 T.A.Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
In the Battle of the Fords of Isen the Rohirrim were driven back across the Isen with great losses, and still more forces came from Isengard including both Orcs and wildmen of Dunland. While Erkenbrand gathered what Riders he could toward Helm's Deep, Ceorl was sent southeast as an errand-rider. Then King Théoden revealed himself and Ceorl was overjoyed and knelt and offered his sword to the king. Ceorl was given a fresh horse and rode with the king to the Battle of Helm's Deep.
Etymology
In Anglo-Saxon, a ceorl was an independent peasant landowner. Ceorl also contains the element éo meaning "horse" that is common among the Rohirrim.
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