Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
headright
Noun
ˈhɛdraɪt
Definition
A legal grant of land to a settler or landowner in the early American colonies.
Examples
- Each colonist received a headright of 50 acres for themselves and an additional 50 acres for each person they transported to the New World.
- Many wealthy landowners accumulated vast tracts of land through the headright system, significantly influencing colonial society.
Meaning
Headrights were a system used primarily in the 17th century to encourage the settlement of land in the American colonies by granting land to individuals based on the number of people they brought with them.
Synonyms
- land grant
- land entitlement
