Ye Old Occupations

Occupation names used in older records

Occupation	Description
Accomptant	Accountant
Almoner	Giver of charity to the needy
Amanuensis	Secretary or stenographer
Artificer	A soldier mechanic who does repairs
Bailie	Baliff
Baxter	Baker
Bluestocking	Female writer
Boniface	Keeper of an inn
Brazier	One who works with brass
Brewster	Beer manufacturer
Brightsmith	Metal Worker
Burgonmaster	Mayor
Caulke	One who filled up cracks (in ships or windows) or seems to make them watertight by using tar or oakum
Chaisemaker	Carriage maker
Chandler	Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries
Chiffonnier	Wig maker
Clark	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.
Cordwainer	Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova/Cordoba in Spain
Costermonger	Peddler of fruits and vegetables
Crocker	Potter
Crowner	Coroner
Currier	One who dresses the coat of a horse with a curry comb; one who tanned leather by incorporating oil or grease
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
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
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
Hacker	Maker of hoes
Hatcheler	One who combed out or carded flax
Haymonger	Dealer in hay
Hayward	Keeper of fences
Higgler	Itinerant peddler
Hillier	Roof tiler
Hind	A farm laborer
Holster	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
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
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
Mintmaster	One who issued local currency
Monger	Seller of goods (ale, fish)
Muleskinner	Teamster
Neatherder	Herds cows
Ordinary Keeper	Innkeeper with fixed prices
Patroller	Patroller of slaves
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
Peregrinator	Itinerant 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.
Porter	Door keeper
Puddler	Wrought iron worker
Quarrier	Quarry worker
Rigger	Hoist tackle worker
Ripper	Seller of fish
Roper	Maker of rope or nets
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
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 / Stuff gownsman	Junior barrister
Supercargo	Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship
Tanner	One who tans (cures) animal hides into leather
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.
Whitesmith	Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work
Whitewing	Street sweeper
Whitster	Bleach of cloth
Wright	Workman, especially a construction worker
Yeoman	Farmer who owns his own land