At the time of the Domesday book the majority of people lived in the country side on the manor of a noble man or the Church. The village residents were most likely living under a feudal system and were classed as peasants in earlier times. When the Domesday survey was undertaken the King held approximately 17% of the land in England, Abbots and Bishops 26% and the remaining 54% by around 190 tenants-in-chief. Twelve Barons held a quarter of England.

Land was measured, in Viking areas in carucates, approximately 60-120 acres which was thought to be the area a team of 8 oxen could plough in a season.