Vavasour

A vavasour, (also vavasor, Old French vavassor, vavassour, French vavasseur, LL. vavassor) is a term in feudal law. A vavasour was the vassal or tenant of a baron, one who held his tenancy under a baron, and who also had tenants under him.

The derivation of the word is obscure. The fanciful interpretation of Bracton, vas sortitum ad valetudinem (a vessel chosen to honor), may be at once rejected. Others would derive it from vassi ad valvas (at the folding-doors, valvae), i.e. servants of the royal antechamber. Du Cange regards it merely as an obscure variant of vassus, probably from vassus vassorum "vassal of the vassals". Alternative spellings include vavasour, valvasor, vasseur, vasvassor, oavassor, and others.