OCCUPATIONS


Term Modern Meaning
Accomptant Accountant
Almoner Giver of charity to the needy
Amanuensis Secretary or stenographer
Artificer A soldier mechanic who does repairs
Ashman shipman or sailor
Bailie Bailiff
Barrister Lawyer
Baxter Baker
Bluestocking Female writer
Boniface Keeper of an inn
Brazier One who works with brass
Brewster Beer manufacturer
Brightsmith Metal Worker
Brownsmith A copper or brass smith
Burgonmaster Mayor
Burnisher Polishes or shines metal
Carner Granary keeper
Carter Maker or driver of carts
Caulker One who filled up cracks (in ships or windows)or seems to make them watertight by using tar or oakum-hemp fiber produced by taking old ropes apart
Chaisemaker Carriage maker
Chandler Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries
Chiffonnier Wig maker
Clark(e) Clerk
Clerk Clergyman, cleric
Clicker The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers; one who received the matter in the galley from the compositors and arranged it in due form ready for printing; one who makes eyelet holes in boots using a machine which clicked
Cohen Priest
Collier Coal miner
Colporteur Peddler of books
Cooper One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves & hoops, such as casks, barrels, tubs, etc.
Coppice Keeper One who takes care of small wood
Cordwainer Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova/Cordoba in Spain
Costermonger Peddler of fruits and vegetables
Crayman Driver of a cart carrying heavy loads
Crocker Potter
Crowner Coroner
Culler Gelder of male animals
Currier One who dresses the coat of a horse with a curry comb; one who tanned leather by incorporating oil or grease
Cutler One who makes or sells knives, etc.
Dareman dairyman
Diviner One who finds water under the ground
Docker Stevedore, dock worker who loads and unloads cargo
Dowser One who finds water using a rod or witching stick
Draper A dealer in dry goods
Drayman One who drives a long strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavy loads
Dresser A surgeon's assistant in a hospital
Drover One who drives cattle, sheep, etc. to market; a dealer in cattle
Drummer traveling salesman
Duffer Peddler
Factor Agent, commission merchant; one who acts or transacts business for another; Scottish steward or bailiff of an estate
Farrier A blacksmith, one who shoes horses
Faulkner Falconer
Fell monger One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making
Fletcher One who made bows and arrows
Framar Farmer
Fuller One who fulls cloth;one who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth by moistening, heating, and pressing; one who cleans and finishes cloth
Gaoler A keeper of the goal, a jailer
Glazier Window glassman
Glover Dealer or maker of gloves
Grecher Grocer
Guilder Makes gold or silver coins
Hacker Maker of hoes
Hatcheler One who combed out or carded flax
Hawker Peddler
Haymonger Dealer in hay
Hayward Keeper of fences
Headborough Constable
Higgler Itinerant peddler
High Sheriff Highest ranking sheriff, as opposed to deputy sheriffs
Hillier Roof tiler
Hind A farm laborer
Hostler A groom who took care of horses, often at an inn
Hooker Reaper
Hooper One who made hoops for casks and barrels
Huckster Sells small wares
Husbandman A farmer who cultivated the land
Ironmonger Dealer in iron goods
Jagger Fish peddler
Journeyman One who had served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft, not bound to serve a master, but hired by the day
Joyner / Joiner A skilled carpenter
Keeler Bargeman
Kellogg Slaughter man
Kempster Wool comber
Lardner Keeper of the cupboard
Lavender Washer woman
Lederer Leather maker
Leech Physician
Longshoreman Stevedore
Lormer Maker of horse gear
Malender Farmer
Maltster Brewer
Manciple A steward
Mason Bricklayer
Millwright One who builds or operates mills
Mintmaster One who issued local currency
Monger Seller of goods (ale, fish)
Muleskinner Teamster
Neatherder Herds cows
Ordinary Keeper Innkeeper with fixed prices
Osler Bird catcher
Pattern Maker A maker of a clog shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole with a pattern cut into the end
Peever Pepper seller
PeregrinatorItinerant wanderer
Peruker A wig maker
Pettifogger A shyster lawyer
Pigman Crockery dealer
Plumber One who applied sheet lead for roofing and set lead frames for plain or stained glass windows
Porcher Pig keeper
Porter Door keeper
Puddler Wrought iron worker
Quarrier Quarry worker
Revenuer Federal officer enforcing the law against illegal manufacturing of whiskey
Rigger Hoist tackle worker
Ripper Seller of fish
Roper Maker of rope or nets
Rower Builder of small wagon wheels
Saddler One who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other furnishings for horses
Sawbones Physician
Sawyer One who saws; carpenter
Schumacker Shoemaker
Scribler A minor or worthless author
Scrivener Professional or public copyist or writer; notary public
Scrutiner Election judge
Shrieve Sheriff
Slater Roofer
Slopseller Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop shop
Snobscat / Snob One who repaired shoes
Sorter Tailor
Spinster A woman who spins or an unmarried woman
Spurrer Maker of spurs
Squire Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of peace
Stuff gown Junior barrister
Stuff gownsman Junior barrister
Supercargo Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship
Sutler Accompanies troops in the field and sells food, drink, and supplies
Tanner One who tans (cures) animal hides into leather
Taper Candlewick maker or seller
Tapley One who puts the tap in an ale cask
Tasker Reaper
Teamster One who drives a team for hauling
Thatcher Roofer
Tide Waiter Customs inspector
Tinker An itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman
Tipstaff Policeman
Travers Toll bridge collection
Tucker Cleaner of cloth goods
Turner A person who turns wood on a lathe into spindles
Victualer A tavern keeper, or one who provides an army, navy, or ship with food supplies
Vulcan Blacksmith
Wagoner Teamster not for hire
Wainwright Wagon maker
Waiter Customs officer or tide waiter; one who waited on the tide to collect duty on goods brought in
Waterman Boatman who plies for hire
Webster Operator of looms
Wharfinger Owner of a wharf
Wheelwright One who made or repaired wheels; wheeled carriages, etc.
Whitcher Maker of chests
Whitesmith Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work
Whitewing Street sweeper
Whitster Bleacher of cloth
Wright Workman, especially a construction worker
Yeoman Farmer who owns his own land

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Swept March 2000

 

© 1998, 1999, 2000 for The NEGenWeb Project by Virginia A. Cisewski