husbandmen
A husbandman is a historical term for a farmer, particularly one who cultivates land owned by another. The term derives from the Old English "husband," meaning "master of a household," and "man." Historically, a husbandman was responsible for managing the land, sowing crops, and tending to livestock, but did not necessarily own the land he worked. This often involved a contractual relationship with a landowner, where the husbandman would provide a portion of his produce or labor in exchange for the use of the land.
The role of a husbandman was crucial in pre-industrial societies, forming the backbone of agricultural economies.