The etymology of the word Hagestolz is not clear; the elements hag (OHG, MHG: “fenced parcel of land”) and staldan (Gothic: “possess”) can be reconstructed, but any further statement about the word’s meaning in a historical context is speculative.
In the late Midde Ages and early modern period, unmarried men and women (but also children) in the German-speaking lands were called Hagestolz/Hagestolzin if at death all or part of their estate was claimed by feudal, judicial, manoria…