Gavelkind
/ˈɡævəlˌkaɪnd/noun
A former system of land inheritance in which property was divided equally among heirs, especially sons.
Did you know?Gavelkind is a genuine historical custom of inheritance, and its name is traditionally linked to a Kentish phrase meaning a kind of rent or due, not to a judge’s gavel.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Old Kentish
OE
gafol
“Rent, tribute, tax, or payment due”
Old English
OE
cynd
“Kind, nature, race, or lineage”
Middle English
ME
gavelkind(e)
“A customary form of land tenure and inheritance, especially in Kent”
Late Medieval Period
English
gavelkind
“A recognized local law under which land was divided among heirs rather than passing intact to the eldest”
Modern English
English
gavelkind
“Historical term for the old Kentish system of partible inheritance”