What does "born of yeomen stock" mean?

Question:I'm from the States and I found this phrase in some papers about my ansestors. I was wondering if it has anything to do with where they are from. Their last name is Higby and they came from Ivinghoe, England. Any help would be great, Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm from the States and I found this phrase in some papers about my ansestors. I was wondering if it has anything to do with where they are from. Their last name is Higby and they came from Ivinghoe, England. Any help would be great, Thanks!

Its a term for a person who owned a small amount of land and was born a free man, its also a military term in Old England, No worries My 7th great grandfather was also mentioned in many of his early records as a Yeoman he lived in Pennsylvania and in his early years owned a small amount of land but eventually became a successful man of business and when he died owned a considerable amount of land. Its not a term that means anything bad to the best of my knowledge no doubt others can give you a more detailed answer on the term "Yeoman".So I guess I could say that my family was born of Yeoman Stock.

Peasants.

Poor fighting men who were put to arms by a 'Lord' (landowner).

From a farming background.

No indication of where from in the UK.

Happy hunting my friend ..

Yeomen were one up from serving stock and were considered the "backbone" of England who sacrificed all to serve their feudal masters. Creeps, I would call them.