lehen

Lehen is a term used in German-speaking regions with several distinct senses. Historically, Lehen refers to a feudal fief in medieval and early modern law. A Lehen was a grant of land, income, or control over a territory given by a lord to a vassal in return for military or other service. The holder of a Lehen owed allegiance and performed specified duties, and the arrangement could be hereditary, vary by region, and be regulated by local customary law and charters. In many jurisdictions, the concept faded as feudal structures declined, but the word persists in legal and historical writings as a descriptor of tenure arrangements and rights attached to land or offices.

Beyond its legal sense, Lehen appears in place names within German-speaking areas. In toponymy, Lehen parts of city districts or localities may reflect historical land tenure, agricultural origins, or administrative history. Such districts often retain the name in modern administrative boundaries and mappings, even as the underlying institutions have changed.

Lehen can also function as a surname or as part of longer proper names referring to people, places, or institutions. In modern usage, it is primarily encountered in historical, genealogical, or local context rather than as a general term.

See also Lehenwesen (feudal tenure) and related terms in German-language sources. The article is intended to summarize the main senses of Lehen without assuming a single, current referent.