Gavelkind

Gavelkind (/ˈɡævəlkaɪnd/) was a system of land tenure chiefly associated with the Celtic law in Ireland and Wales and with the legal traditions of the English county of Kent.

The word may have originated from the Old Irish phrases Gabhaltas-cinne or Gavail-kinne, which meant "family settlement" (Modern Gaelic gabhail-cine).

[9] Its survival in Kent has been popularly attributed to favorable terms negotiated between the people of the county and William the Conqueror, who was unable to subdue them, although this suggestion has been debated by scholars.

[10][11][12][13][14][15] In medieval Wales, a legal framework had developed based on the ancient Celtic laws and traditions similar to those in Ireland.

[16][17] Cyfran was an ancient tradition passed down orally by jurists and bards until the mid-10th century, when the laws were codified during the reign of Hywel Dda.