What does 'thane' mean in Beowulf?

Beowulf:

Beowulf is the oldest-surviving major world of Anglo-Saxon literature. The manuscript on which it survives dates from the late 10th or early 11th century, but the story is probably much older.

Answer and Explanation:

Thane is a type of nobleman that existed both in Medieval England and Scandinavia. In Old English, it can be translated as 'one who serves'.