In Norse Mythology, Esne was a hardworking woman who became the wife of Thrall. Their twelve sons and nine daughters, who were strong and hard working, became the peasants, slaves, and laborers of the world and formed the lowest class of the three classes of men.

The other classes of men are Carl or Karl (Freemen) and Earl (Noble) and full text of the myth can be found in the Rigsthula from the Poetic Edda.