Early references usually refer to Knights retainers but later the term came to mean a freeholder or tenant engaged in agriculture The major difference from the minor gentry was that a yeoman would put his own hand to work rather than employ servants Economically yeomen could and many did acquire substantial wealth and in the 16th and 17th century were the backbone of the rural economy Many of Leicestershire yeomen were descended from Danish soldiers who were allocated land to farm surrounding the Danelaw boroughs providing a ready defensive force
of the gueard a sort of foot guards to the king's person, of larger stature than ordinary, every one being required to be six foot high; they are in number 100 in constant duty; the one half wear harquebuses and the other partuisans; their attendance is on the sovereigns person both at home and abroad; they are clad after the manner of king Henry VIII's time
A third in order of the feudal servant fighting class below knight, squire and above a page. A yeoman archer is typically a mounted archer but who fights on foot, sometimes called a man-at-arms
The First Rank of the Combatant Roll One who is authorized by a Knight combatant or two Sergeants and the Minister of Joust to enter the Sergeants' List
In English history, a class intermediate between the gentry and the laborers; a yeoman was usually a landholder but could also be a retainer, guard, attendant, or subordinate official