Demesne

A demesne or domain was any a land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation, or support. This distinguished it from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants.

In England, Wales & Northern Ireland, royal demesne is the land held by the Crown, and ancient demesne is the legal term for the land held by the king at the time of the Domesday Book.

Etymology

The word derives from Old French , ultimately from Latin , "lord, master of a household" – demesne is a variant of domaine.

The word barton, which is historically synonymous to demesne and is an factor found in many place-names, can refer to a demesne farm: it derives from Old English bere barley and ton enclosure.