The Karls

They comprised the vast majority of the Norsemen who lived in freedom (i.e. not in slavery), being farmers, fishermen, blacksmiths, carpenters, ship-builders, etc.

The vast majority of Norsemen belonged to the middle class, the karls. These people were freemen and landowners. They were the farmers, the smiths, and the just plain folks. Families of karls usually lived-in clusters of two or more buildings, typically longhouses supplemented by barns and workshops.