Paroikoi (plural of Greek πάροικος, paroikos, the etymological origin of parish and parochial) is the term that replaced "metic" in the Hellenistic and Roman period to designate foreign residents.^[1]

In the Byzantine Empire, paroikoi were non-proprietary peasants, hereditary holders of their land, irremovable as long as they paid their rent.^[2] They appeared in the Justinian code, which prohibited this status; so it remained provisionally clandestine.

Paroikoi are comparable to the western concept of serfs and appear to be widespread by the 13th century.^[3]

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