A churl, in its earliest Old English meaning, was simply "a man" or more particularly a "husband", but the word soon came to mean "a non-servile peasant", still spelled ċeorl, and denoting the lowest rank of freemen.

What did Ceorls do?

Ceorl, also spelled Churl, the free peasant who formed the basis of society in Anglo-Saxon England. His free status was marked by his right to bear arms, his attendance at local courts, and his payment of dues directly to the king.

What does the word churl mean in English?

1 : ceorl. 2 : a medieval peasant. 3 : rustic, countryman.