Editing Yeoman (section)

=== Household attendant or servant (14th century-present)<span class="anchor" id="Yeo Serv"></span> ===
{{Main|Yeoman (household servant)}}
Yeoman, as a household servant, is one of the earliest documented uses of the word. During the 14th century, it referred to a servant or attendant in a [[Medieval household|royal or noble household]], usually one who was of higher rank in the [[Social stratification#Definition and usage|household hierarchy]]. This hierarchy reflected the [[Feudalism in England|feudal society]] in which they lived. Everyone who served a royal or noble household knew their duties, and knew their place.{{r|1999_Woolgar|p=8}} This was especially important when the household staff consisted of both nobles and commoners. There were actually two household hierarchies which existed in parallel. One was the organization based upon the function ([[Duty#Duties of employment|duty]]) being performed. The other was based upon whether the person performing the duty was a noble or a commoner.{{r|1999_Woolgar|p=8}}

[[File:Horham Hall blueprint.png|thumb|Floor plan of Horsham Hall (built early 16th century) showing the locations of the kitchen, [[Buttery (room)|buttery]], and [[pantry]] relative to the [[Great hall]]]]
Similar household duties were grouped into [[Medieval household#Composition|Household Offices]], which were then assigned to one of several Chief Officers. In each Household Office, the servants were organized into a hierarchy, arranged in ranks according to the level of responsibility.{{r|1999_Woolgar|p=8}}
; [[Sergeant#History|Sergeant]]
: The highest rank, which reported directly to the Chief Officer and oversaw an individual Household Office.{{r|1999_Woolgar|p=31}} The word was introduced to England by the Normans, and meant an attendant or servant.<ref name="1914_OED_SergeantIA"/>
; Yeoman
: The middle rank of the Household Office.
; Groom
: The lowest rank of the Household Office. It generally referred to a menial position for a free-born commoner.<ref name="1901_OED_GroomIA"/>
The Chief Officers were nobles, but the servant ranks of Sergeant, Yeoman, and Groom
could be filled by either commoners or members of noble families. Any household duties which required close contact with the lord's immediate family, or their rooms, were handled by nobles.
For example, the [[Steward (office)|Steward]] oversaw the Offices concerned with household management. Procurement, storage, and preparation of food, waiting at table, and tending to the kitchen gardens, were some of the duties for which the Steward was responsible. Under the Steward during the reign of King Edward III, there were two separate groups of yeomen: ''Yeomen of the King's Chamber'' and ''Yeomen of the Offices''. The first group were members of noble families who waited only on the King, and the second group were commoners who performed similar duties for other household residents and guests in the Great Hall, kitchen, pantry, and other areas.