Occupant Or Occupier

One who has the actual use or possession of a thing.

He derives his title of occupancy either by taking possession of a thing without an owner, or by purchase or gift of the thing from the owner, or it descends to him by due course of law.

When the occupiers of a house are entitled to a privilege in consequence of such occupation, as to pass along a way, to enjoy a pew, and the like, a person who occupies a part of such house, however small, is entitled to some right and cannot be deprived of it.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.