Copyhold was a form of customary land ownership common from the Late Middle Ages into modern times in England.

[1][2] In return for being given land, a copyhold tenant was required to carry out specific manorial duties or services.

The specific rights and duties of copyhold tenants varied greatly from one manor to another and many were established by custom.

Copyhold was directly descended from the feudal system of villeinage which involved giving service and produce to the local lord in return for land.

Each manor custom laid out rights to use various resources of the land such as wood and pasture, and numbers of animals allowed on the common.

By this time, servitude to the lord of the manor was merely token, discharged on purchasing the copyhold by payment of a "fine in respite of fealty".