In Anglo-Saxon England, a man who ranked between a freeman and a hereditary noble (5)

I believe the answer is:

thane

(Other definitions for thane that I've seen before include "Macbeth's Cawdor title" , "Medieval Scottish clan chief" , "Anglo-Saxon aristocrat - old Scottish clan chief" , "Old lord" , "Macbeth became - of Cawdor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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