After the loss of the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, Erkenbrand withdrew his Riders to Helm's Deep, and sent Ceorl south as a messenger to warn Éomer. He was surprised to come across Théoden's army riding north, ready to launch their own defence of the Fords. The news brought by Ceorl caused Théoden to reconsider his strategy, and he rode instead to join Erkenbrand at Helm's Deep, so setting the stage for the mighty Battle of the Hornburg.
Like other Rohirrim, Ceorl's name comes from Old English. It refers to a particular rank in Anglo-Saxon society, in fact the lowest rank possible while remaining a freeman. Historically, these people would not normally have been professional soldiers, so if Ceorl's background follows his name, we might guess that he was a farmer or tradesman who had been pressed into military service to help deal with the imminent threat to Rohan.
Notes
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At least, this would be the approximate Anglo-Saxon pronunciation of the word ceorl. This pronunciation is reflected in the modern English word 'churl', which derives from Old English ceorl.
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The word ceorl derives from an ancient Germanic word for 'man', but by Anglo-Saxon times it referred to a particular stratum of society, a workman or peasant who was nonetheless a freeman, and therefore not a bondsman or thrall. From the same etymological source came the name 'Carl', which was actually used by members of the Cotton family in the Shire, reflecting the common linguistic heritage of the Rohirrim and Shire-hobbits.
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- Updated 2 September 2017
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