Ceorls were a class of free peasants in Anglo-Saxon England, primarily during the early medieval period. They were distinct from the nobility and the serfs, possessing their own land and rights. Ceorls typically engaged in farming and other trades, contributing to the local economy and community. While ceorls had more freedom than serfs, they were still subject to certain obligations, such as paying taxes and providing labor to their lords. This social structure was part of the broader feudal system that characterized medieval society, influencing land ownership and social hierarchy in England.