Ceorl (Middle-earth)

Ceorl is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth. He appears in The Two Towers as a rider of Rohan who fought in the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen.

Character overview
In the Battle of the Fords of Isen, the Rohirrim were driven back across the Isen with great losses, and still more forces came from Isengard including both Men of Dunland and Orcs. While Erkenbrand gathered what Riders he could toward Helm's Deep, Ceorl was sent southeast as an errand-rider. Ceorl was exhausted; his helm was dented, his shield was cloven, and his sword was notched. On March 3, Ceorl encountered a group of Riders. He assumed they were led by Éomer, and he gave them news of the battle and told them they should turn back to Edoras. Then King Théoden revealed himself and Ceorl was overjoyed and knelt and offered his sword to the king. Ceorl was given a fresh horse and rode with the king to the Battle of Helm's Deep.

Etymology
In Anglo-Saxon, a ceorl is an independent peasant landowner. Its modern form is churl, although "ceorl" is also used in modern English to refer to the Anglo-Saxon meaning.