Denizen in United Kingdom

Meaning of Denizen

The following is an old definition of Denizen [1]: An alien born who has obtained ex donatione regis letters-patent to make him a subject. whence (the word(s) which follow it are derivatives from the same root word) denizenize, denizenation or denization, and denizenship. The crown denizenizes; parliament consents to naturalization. A denizen is in a kind of middle state between an alien and a natural-bom subject, and partakes of both. He may take lands by purchase or devise, but not by inheritance – for the parent has no inheritable lilood. But since 1870, in England, an alien may hold and dispose of property as a natural-born subject. In South Carolina the status seems to have been created by law.

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Notes and References

1. Concept of Denizen provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

English Law: Denizen in the Past

An alien born, who has geted, ex donatione legis, letters patent to make him au English subject.

Developments

He is intermediate between a natural born subject and an alien. He may. take lands by buy or devise, which an alien cannot, but he is incapable of taking by inheritance. 1 Bl. Com. 374. In the United States of America there is no such civil condition. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about denizen is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including denizen.

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Concept of Denizen

Traditional meaning of denizen [1] in the English common law history: An alien born, made a subject by letters patent of the King. He could take land by purchase, not by inheritance; see 1st Book (“The Rights of Persons”), Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England 374. [rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Based on A concise law dictionary of words, phrases and maxims, “Denizen”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. This term and/or definition may be absolete. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary, based on a glossary of terms, included Denizen.

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