Definition of manor

The word "manor" originated from the Old English term "gemæ week," meaning "village community" or "farmstead." In the early Middle Ages, landowners in England would lease portions of their estates to tenant farmers for a share of the produce. These farming communities became known as "manors," as the Anglo-Saxon term for them evolved into "manna bonna," which translates to "good place" or "farmstead." As feudalism took hold in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, the term "manor" came to refer to the administrative and economic center of a nobleman's estate. It encompassed not only the farming community but also the lord's residence, outbuildings, and surrounding lands. The manor served as the administrative hub for the lord's estate, with the head of the household, or manor lord, presiding over legal matters, feudal duties, and agriculture. Over time, the meaning of "manor" evolved to include grand country houses and estates associated with wealthy aristocrats, particularly during the Renaissance and Restoration periods in England. Today, the term "manor" is often used interchangeably with grand, historic homes, particularly in the United States, where it has taken on a connotation of luxury and status.