List of Old English Occupations and descriptions (2024)

OBSCURE OLD ENGLISH CENSUS OCCUPATIONS

Below is a list of some of the more obscure occupations that you may find on the English Census during your genealogy research. The English census has been taken every 10 years since 1841 but, because they can not be viewed by the public for 100 years, we only have access to the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 census. Because many of these jobs are no longer in existance there is a brief description against each one. Please note this list is by no means exhaustive and if you would like to add an obscure job to the list feel free to email us with your suggestion and its meaning.
PLEASE NOTE: This list has been checked and verified by ourselves (2012) and unlike some other websites that have a similar occupation list we have removed spurious occupations, added others and improved job description. We hope you find the updated information useful for your research.

ABECEDARIANA teacher of the alphabet
ABLE SEAMANAn unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. Also an Able Seaman was (and is) a naval rank for the lowest but one sailor rank, the lower rank being Ordinary Seaman or Seaman. It indicated a qualified sailor with service.
ACATERA present day caterer. A person who supplied food provisions to various outlets
ACCOMPTANTAn accountant
ACCOUCHEUR A professional obstetrician. Assisted women in childbirth. A male physician skilled in the art and science of managing obstetrics. pregnancy, labour and the time after delivery
ACCOUCHEUSA midwife
ACCOUTREMENT MAKER or ACCOUTRERSomeone who supplied dress or trappings equipment - i.e. the equipment of a solider other than arms and uniform.
ACTORA theatrical performer. Performed on stage to audiences. (In the past, only men could become actors. In the ancient and medieval world, it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go on the stage -a belief that continued up until the 17th century.)
ACTUARYAn account keeper. An officer or a mercantile or insurance company. Skilled in statistics, especially on the expectancy of life and the average proportion of losses by fire and other accidents
ADMINISTRATOR (ADMINISTRATRIX - female)Someone who directed the affairs of another i.e. A man who manages an intestate estate.
ADVOCATE One who pleads a case for another. To defend. E.g. Solicitor, Barrister.
AERONAUTA Balloonist. In some countries a trapeze artist
AFFEEROR or AFFEERERAn official who assesses the monetary penalty due
AGISTERA person who affords pasture to the livestock of others for a price. (e.g. cattle, pigs, sheep, ponies, horses) Can also refer to forest pasturage or herbage.
ALABASTERERA person works with alabaster
ALCHEMISTA medieval chemist who claimed to be able to turn base metals into gold
ALDERMANA civic dignitary in the local council. Next in rank below the mayor
ALE DRAPERA seller of ale
ALE TASTERAn appointed inspector/quality tester of ale and beer first recorded in London 1377. The forerunner of Weights & Measures Act
ALE TUNNERSomeone employed by the brewery to fill ale casks (tuns} with ale
ALE-CONNER or ALE FOUNDERAn inspector of ale, who tested the quality and measure of ale served in public houses
ALE-HOUSE-KEEPER or ALEHOUSE KEEPERThe landlord of a tavern / public house landlord (pub, Inn)
ALE-WIFEA woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern
ALMONERThe person who distributed alms or charity to the poor on behalf of the parish
ALNAGER or ALNAGAR or AULNAGARAn officer in England formally appointed to inspect and measure woollen cloth, and fix upon it a seal.
AMANUENSISA Scribe or a person who takes down dictation. Secretary or stenographer or a manual labourer.
AMBER & JET CUTTERA person who cuts and polishes amber and jet for jewellery
AMBER CUTTERA person who cuts ambergris which is an ash coloured odorous substance used in perfumery.
ANCHORITE or ANCHORET (male) ANCHORESS or ANCRESS (female)Denotes a person who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic and focused life. As a result, anchorites are usually considered to be a type of religious hermit, although there are distinctions in their historical development and theology. Hermit or religious recluse
ANCHORSMITHA person who made anchors for boats and ships
ANGLE IRON SMITHA person who made angle iron i.e. flat iron bars bent at an angle
ANILEPMANA sub-tenant on a smallholding
ANKLE BEATERA young person who helped to drive the cattle to market
ANNATTO MAKERSomeone who worked in the manufacture of dyes for paint or printing, using dye from annatto. This is a dye, yellow or orange in colour and was gained from the achiote trees found in Latin American and the Caribbean.
ANTIGROPELOS MAKERA person who made waterproof leggings
ANNUITANT Not strictly an occupation but something you may come across under the occupation title which indications that the person was able to support themselves financial from their own savings or investments for example stocks and shares.(See also Fundholder or LOOM)
ANVIL SMITHSomeone who made anvils and hammers for blacksmiths
APIARISTA Beekeeper
APOTHECARYSomeone who prepared and sold medicines or drugs; pharmacist,chemist
APPARITOR or USHERFormerly an officer to execute the order of the magistrate, judge or court. An official who serves the summons and executes the process of the ecclesiastical court. Also the mace bearer or beadle of a university or similarly functionary.
APPRAISERAn evaluator who estimates the value of land
APPRENTICESomeone who was learning a trade by being bound to a skilled worker for a specified time
APRONEER or APRONMANCommonly refered to a London shopkeeper - or someone who wore an apron to work.
AQUAFORTISTA person who etches or engraves with aqua-fortis - a solution of nitric acid
AQUAVITA SELLERSomeone who sold unrectified alcohol (popularly ardent spirits like brandy)
ARBALESTER A crossbow man
ARCHIATORA chief physician or doctor
ARCHIL MAKERSomeone who used lichens to make a violet-coloured dye to use in the textile industry.
ARKWRIGHTA skilled craftsman who produced wooden chests or coffers (Arks)
ARMOURERA person who made suits of armour or plates of armour for buildings or ships etc.
ARMY CLOTHIEROne who made clothes / uniforms for the Army
ARPENTEURA land surveyor
ARTIFICERA highly respected skilled or artistic worker or craftsman or a skilled mechanic in the armed forces, chiefly British. It may also refer to a person who makes artifacts
ASHMANA dustman
ASSAY MASTERDetermined the amount of gold or silver to go in coins
ASSAYERDetermined the proportions of metal in ore
ATTORNEYA Lawyer
AUCTIONEERDealer. Person who sells goods at auction and is usually paid by commission on the sale.
AUGER MAKERSomeone who made the carpenters augers (used for boring holes in wood)
AURIFABERA Goldsmith
AWL BLADE MAKER A metal tool used to work on leather / leatherwork. Mainly used by saddlers and cobblers (shoemakers)
AXEMAN or AXMANOne who wields an axe. Woodsman.
AXLE (AXEL)TREE MAKER or AXLE (AXEL) TREE TURNERMade axles for coaches and wagons

BACK WASHEREmployed to clean the wool in the worsted manufacturing industry
BACKMANN or BACKSTER or BAXTER or BECK or BECKERA Baker
BACK'US BOYA kitchen servant from the back of the house
BADGERA licenced huckster (peddler (pedlar), hawker). A corn miller or dealer or an itinerant food trader. Travelling provisions dealer. Licensed pauper who wore a badge with the letter P on it and could only work in a defined area (the term "Badgering comes from this"). A petty jobber, or trickster.
BAGMANTravelling salesman
BAGNIOKEEPERIn charge of a bath house or brothel
BAILIFF or BAILIE or BAILLIE or BAILLEEOfficer of the sheriff, a land steward acting on behalf of the Landowner or Landlord and in Scotland a magistrate of the burgh, also looked after the fishing rights on certain rivers
BAIRMAN or BAREMANPauper or beggar
BAL MAIDEN or PIT BROW LASSA female mine worker who worked on the surface
BALANCERThe person, usually a boy, who operated the balance - a pulley where full tubs were pulled up a slope in a mine and emptied
BALERA person who bales hay. In the mills one who bailed wool or cotton goods
BALISTERArcher - most commonly a crossbowman
BALLARD MASTEROne in charge of loading the ballast into the hold of empty ships
BALLAST HEAVER or BALLAST MANPerson who used to load ballast into the hold of empty ships
BALLER or BALLER UPPerson who measured out the balls of clay for the potter
BAND FILERA metal worker in the gun making industry
BANDSTEROne who bound the wheat sheaves after harvest
BANG BEGGARAn officer of the parish who controlled the length of stay of any stranger to the parish
BANKERA person who dug trenches and ditches to allow drainage of the land, placing the surplus earth in banks around the edge
BANKSMAN or BANK MANAGEREmployed in the mining industry being in charge of the cages at the pit head
BARBER or BARBER SURGEONA barber who also acted as a surgeon (an Act was passed that limited Barbers to hair-cutting, shaving, dentistry and blood letting in the 18th century)
BARDPoet, writer or minstrel
BAREMANA beggar or pauper
BARERA barer was the person who removed over-burden (top-soil) with pick and shovel. He was responsible for digging out the earth on the hillside until it reached the stone below at which point the Delver or Stone Getter would take over. It was a dangerous job and there was many fatalities if the soil gave way, burying barers alive. (other names known by - stone barer, burden man, excavator, feigher, muckman, navvy, ridder, rudder, stripper, tirrer, top barer, top delver)
BARGE MATESupervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges: Naval officer
BARGEE or BARGEMANOne who worked on or owned and operated a barge
BARILLA MANUFACTURERMade barilla, a substance obtained from burning saltworts, the resulting mixture of sodium salts being used in the glass and ceramics industry
BARKEEPERAnother name for a tollkeeper or tavern keeper
BARKEROne who strips bark from trees. Also one who prepared leather with bark, a tanner
BARKMANAnyone who tanned leather using the bark of trees.
BASIL WORKERWorkers who used bark to tan the skins of lambs and sheep. The leather was called basil
BASKETMANMade baskets and furniture from wicker, a person employed to empty the basket of coal being off-loaded from the colliery into the barges
BASS or BAST DRESSEREmployed in dressing fibre or matting
BATMANOfficers servant in the army
BATT MAKERMattress maker. Made the wadding used in quilt and mattress making
BATTER OUTSliced a short cylinder of clay and threw it onto a mold shaped for the face of a ceramic plate
BATTLEDORE MAKERA person who made the (usually cane) beaters used on clothes, carpets etc to remove the dust. Very popular at spring cleaning time.
BATTUEREA person who drives game from cover during a hunt
BAUERGerman for Farmer
BAXTERBaker
BAYWEAVER or BAIZEWEAVEROne who wove bay - a fine woollen fabric also known as baize
BEAD PIERCEREmployed to drill the holes in beads
BEADLE or BEDEL or BEDELLOfficer of the parish whose principle duty was to keep order. Was also the town crier
BEADMAN or BEADSMAN or BEDESMANEmployed to pray for his employer, inhabitant of an almshouse / poorhouse or hospital or tenant employed by the manor for a specific service. Person who carries out prays in accordance to a list. Almsman, Almswoman.
BEAGLEOfficer of the law (Policeman)
BEAMERWinds the warp on the roller before putting it on the loom in the textile industry
BEARERWorked undergrpound carrying the coal to the bottom of the pit shaft and placed it in the containers for uplifting to the surface
BEATERCleansed and thickened the cloth by treading it underwater with fullers earth (sedimentary clay rich in minerals). Also a man employed to rouse game.
BEAVERMade felt used in hat making.
BEDMANSexton whose main job in the church was to dig the graves
BEDWEVEREMade the webbing for bed frames and also one who wove quilts
BEESKEEPMAKERMade beehives
BEETLEROperated a beetling machine, used in the textile trade for embossing fabric
BELHOSTETavern keeper
BELL HANGERInstalled bells in churches
BELLFOUNDER or BELLEYETERE or BELTER or BILLITERMade bells
BELLMANEmployed as a watchman or town crier or who worked for the post office and collected letters for the mail coach by walking the streets and ringing a bell
BELLOWS MAKERMade bellows used for organs or blacksmiths fires
BELLY BUILDERBuilt and fitted the interiors of a piano. Performs any combination of following tasks to fit and assemble wood soundboard, cast metal plate, and wood bridges to wood frame to fabricate back panel of piano
BENDERCut leather
BESOM MAKERMade brooms usually from twigs with a centre pole
BESSWARDENAppointed by the parish to look after its animals
BEVERBeverage maker
BIDDYFemale servant usually of Irish stock
BILL POSTER or BILLBOARDERPut up notices, signs and advertisem*nts
BILLIER or BILLYMANOperated a Billy Roller, a machine used in the cotton industry to prepare the cotton for spinning
BINDERBound items, e.g., books, hats etc .
BIRD BOYEmployed to scare away birds from crops
BIRD CATCHERCaught birds for selling
BLACKING MAKERMade polish (blacking) for shoes
BLACKSMITHIs a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal. They produce objects such as gates, tools, agricultural implements, cooking utensils and weapons.
BLADESMITHSwordmaker or knife maker
BLEACHERA bleacher of cloth or paper pulp
BLEMMEREA pre 19th Century term for a plumber. A plumber was also called a plumbum man.
BLENTONIST or DOWSERWater diviner. Finds water using a rod or wooden witching stick
BLOCK ENGRAVEREngraved the blocks used in the printing trade
BLOCK PRINTERPrinter who used engraved wooden blocks for printing
BLOCKCUTTER or BLOCKERMade wooden blocks used in the hat trade or laid down the blocks on which a ships keel was laid. A blockcutter was also a person who made and cut the patterns into wooden blocks for textile printing
BLOODMAN or BLOODLETTERPerson who opened veins to let blood out of a persons body. Quite often he would use leeches to do this - believed to be a cure for many ailments
BLOOMERA worker in a iron forge or puddling furness. A bloomer extracts wrought iron from ore which is worked with a hammer or rolled. (See also Shingler)
BLOWERGlass blower. A person who operated a blowing machine used to clean and separate fibres in the textile trade. A person who operated the bellows at a blacksmiths. One who is employed in melting tin.
BLOWFEEDERFed the fibres into a blowing machine in the textile industry
BLUE MAKERUsed or made blue dye for whitening fabrics in manufacture or washing (Dolly blue)
BLUESTOCKINGA bluestocking is an educated, intellectual woman. A literary woman, usually with the imputation of pedantry.
BLUFFERInnkeeper or landlord of a pub (slang USA)
BOARDING CLERKA clerk in the customs or in a mercantile firm who communicates with the masters of ships on their arrival in port
BOARDING OFFICERInspected ships before entering port
BOARDWRIGHTA carpenter
BOATMAN or BOASTSMANA man who lets out boats for hire. Or a person who works or manages a boat, predominately on rivers and canals. Also the name given to a boat repairer
BOATSWAIN or BO'SUNShip's officer in charge of riggings and sails. On a war vessel a warant officer in charge of rigging, anchors, cables and cordage. On a merchant ship a superior seaman having similar duties.
BOBBIN CARRIERWorked in spinning and weaving sections of the mills
BOBBIN TURNERMade the bobbins used in the spinning and weaving industry
BOBBYPoliceman usually of constable rank
BODEYS or BODY MAKERMade bodices for womens garments
BODGEROne who used a traditional wood turning craft to make chair legs and spars - usually from green (unseasoned) wood. A carpenter.
BOILER PLATERMade rolled iron plate for use with steam boiler engines etc
BOLLOne who looked after power looms in the weaving industry
BOLTEROversaw the sifting of meal or floor
BONDAGERA cotter bound to render certain services to a farmer. Or a female worker paid by a cotter to render certain services on his behalf to a farmer. Bonded to the farmer. Scottish term for woman brought by ploughman or hind (generally wife,sister or daughter) to work on farm with him.
BONDMANPeasant bonded to a master for the purpose of learning a skill or trade. Serf, man slave
BONE BUTTON TURNERMade buttons using a lathe
BONE CUTTER Associated with a number of industries but in particular button making, handles for knives and the rigid parts of corsets/stays.
BONE LACE MAKERA person who made pillow lace. Also known as bobbin lace
BONE MOULD TURNERMade the moulds for button manufacturers
BONE PICKERCollected rags and bones also known as a Rag and Bone Man. They also collected 'pure' (dog dung) for use in the tanning industry.
BONESETTERA 'surgeon' - non qualified practitioner who sets fractured and dislocated bones
BONIFACEKeeper of an inn
BOOK GILDERDecorated books with gold leaf
BOOK KEEPERLooked after the accounts for businesses
BOOKHOLDERPrompter in the theater
BOOKMANA literary man. A lover of reading. Student.
BOOT CATCHERA servant at an inn who pulled off traveller's boots
BOOT CLOSERWorked in the shoe trade stitching together all the parts of a shoe
BOOTBINDEREmployed to operate the machines which bound footware
BOOTHMANCorn merchant
BORRELERMade borrel, a woollen cloth with a coarse feel
BOTCHERA mender or a patcher
BOTTILER or BOTTLERA person who made leather containers for holding liquids eg wine flasks or water bottles
BOTTLE BOYPharmacists assistant
BOTTOM CAPTAINA superintendent in charge of the deepest working parts of a mine
BOTTOM KNOCKERSagger makers assistant in the pottery industry
BOTTOM MAKERMoulded the bottoms for saggers in the pottery industry
BOTTOMERWorked down the pits moving the ore to the bottom of the shaft for removal
BOWDLERWorked with iron ore - a person who expurgates (cleanse, purify or purge) iron ore
BOWKERA person who bleached yarn. English (chiefly Manchester) occupational name for someone whose job was to steep cotton or linen in lye (a strong alkali) to cleanse it. A local term in some parts of Lancashire for a butcher or slaughterer
BOWLERMade bowls and dishes and also a term used for those who made the rounded part of spoons before casting
BOWLMAN or BOWLWOMANDealer in crockery
BOWLMINDERIn charge of the vats used for washing raw wool before processing
BOWYER or BOWERMade, sells or uses a bow. A maker of bows in archery
BOZZLERParish constable
BRACHYGRAPHERShorthand stenographer. Secretary
BRADOON MAKER The bradoon is a double bridle for a horse. It has a snaffle bit, which works in concert with a curb bit to make up the formidable double bridle.
BRAIDERMade cord by twisting threads or strips of leather.
BRAILLERMade girdles
BRAKEMAN or BRAKESMANOperated the winch at the pit head or operated the braking mechanism on trains and trams
BRASILERDyer using the dye obtained from the Brazilian red wood tree
BRAZIERWorker with brass
BREWSTERFemale brewer
BRIGHTSMITHA person who works with bright metals such as copper, tin or brass
BROOM SQUIREBroom maker
BROOM-DASHERDealer in brooms
BROTHERER or BROWDERER or BRODERER or BROIDEREREmbroiderer
BROW GIRLFemale employed at the pit head
BROWNSMITHWorks with copper or brass
BUCK WASHERA person who used to wash or soak clothes or cloth in lye (buck) - a bleaching agent. E.g. Cothing manufacturer, laundry. (see also bowker)
BUCKLE TONGUE MAKERMade the metal pointed (tongue) part of belt buckles
BUCKLER or BUCKLESMITHMade buckles
BUCKRAM MAKERWorked with buckram (a coarse linen cloth stiffen ed with glue) used in stiffening materials such as belts, lapels and collars
BUDDLER or BUDDLEBOYEmployed to use and maintain the vats used in the lead and tin mines - washes the ore
BULLOCKYA term for the driver of a bullock team (Australian)
BUMBOAT MAN or BUMBARGE MAN or SCAVENGERBOAT MANA man who used a bumboat and meet ships at anchor (in port or off shore) with goods / provisions for passengers and crew to purchase
BUMMAREEMiddle man between the wholesaler and the retailer at the fish markets (eg Billingsgate, London)
BUNTERFemale rag & bone collector
BURGESSRepresented a borough at official levels
BURGOMASTERMagistrate or one employed in the goverment of a city e.g. mayor
BURLERA dresser of cloth. Removes small knots or lumps in cloth or thread. In the process of fulling.
BURMAIDEN or BOWERMAIDENA Chambermaid or lady-in-waiting
BURNISHERA person who polishes or makes glossy
BURYE MANGrave digger
BUSHELMAN or BUSHELWOMAN Tailor's assistant who repaired or altered clothes
BUSKERA street entertainer
BUTTER CARVERMade imprints in butter pats
BUTTON -MAKER or BUTNERButton maker
BUTTYMiddleman who negotiated mining contracts and supplied the labor

CADDY or CADDIEOne who waits about for chances to do odd jobs. Errand boy. Messenger
CADGERA market man, peddler or huskster. Beggar
CAIRDAnother term for a tinker
CAKE PRESSMAN Person involved with making cattle feed who operated a press to extracted oil from seeds
CALCINERBurnt bones to make powdered lime (Reduced by heat)
CALENDARERA person who complies lists
CALENDERER or CALENDERMAN or CALENDER WORKEROperated a machine (a calender) which pressed cloths or paper between two large rollers in order to makes them smooth and glossy.
CALICO PRINTERA person who prints figured patterns on calico
CAMBISTA banker specialising in exchange rates
CAMBRIC MAKERA maker a fine linen (cambric)
CAMLET or KAMLET MERCHANTSeller of camlet, a costly fabric of satin weave made in Asia of camel's or goat's hair or angora wool
CANAL BANK RANGERLooked after a section and all aspects of the canal waterways eg locks, barges, canal traffic, licences, etc. A towpath warden
CANDLE MAKER On who made and sold candles
CANDLEROne who candles eggs
CANER or CAINERMade walking sticks
CANER or CHAIR BOTTOMERMade the seats for chairs out of woven cane
CANNONEERMan who fires a cannon. A solider who serves as a gunner
CANON or CANONESSA member of the chapter of a cathedral. One of the bishop's associate council.
CANTEROne who uses cant as a beggar.
CANTING CALLERAuctioneer
CANVAS CLIMBERA sailor
CANVAS MAKERA person who made canvases a course cloth made from hemp. Used for sails, tents, paintings, tapestries.
CANVASERA person whose job is to solict peoples opinions, votes or orders
CAP MAKERMade caps usually worn by the working class
CAPILLAIRE MAKERPerson who made capillaire, which is a clear syrup flavoured with orange flower water. Capillaire is added by confectioners to their products.
CAPITALISTInvestor. Person of large property.
CAPTAINIn charge of a ship or a group of soldiers and also term for an overseer
CARD NAILER or NAILORAMaintained the teeth (nails) on the carding machine used for preparing wool and cotton for weaving
CARDEROperated or tended machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment.
CARDMAKER A maker of cards or instruments for combing wool
CARDROOMER or CARD ROOM WORKERTerm for anyone who worked in the carding room of the mills
CARETAKER Takes care of another's property
CARMANDrove a vehicle used to transport goods
CARNIFEXPublic executioner
CARRY-IN-BOY Took finished bottled (products) to the tempering oven
CART WHEELER OR WHEELWRIGHTMade cart wheels
CARTERCarries or conveys goods in a cart
CARTOGRAPHERA map maker
CARTOMANCERFortune teller who used cards (USA)
CARTWRIGHTMaker of carts and wagons
CASE MAKER Maker of ornamental/ jewellery cases. Often worked in shagreen leather (Shagreen - leather prepared from the skin of horses, asses, mules)
CASEMANAmongst printers one who works at the case, or sets up type. A compositor
CASTEROne who casts. One who casts in metal. One who mades small bottles used for sprinkling salt, pepper, sugar etc. One who assigns the parts of a play to the actors. One who calculates fortunes. One who computes.
CASTRATOR or GELDEROne who castrated farm animals -
CATAGMAN or COTTAGERA tenant who leased a cottage and plot of land where they grew their own produce and often kept a small amount of livestock.
CATCHPOLE or CATCHPOLLAA sheriff's officer or sergeant, especially one who makes arrests for debt. A bailiff
CATECHISTAA teacher of religion
CATTLE JOBBERBuys and sells cattle
CATTLE-MANOne who tends or raises cattles
CAULKER or CALKERFilled up cracks (in ships or windows) or seams to make them watertight
CEILERPuts up the ceilings in buildings
CELLARMANLooked after the beer, wines and spirits in public houses or the warehouse
CHAFFERERNegotiator
CHAIR BODGER Traveling chair repairman
CHAISE MAKERMade or assembled carts and carriages
CHAMBER MASTERA small master who makes up material at home and sells goods to the shops. (e.g. Shoes, clothes, bric-a-brac)
CHAMBERLAINA steward to either royalty or nobility, in charge of the household. Or a treasurer.
CHAMBERMAIDA female servant attending to bedrooms in houses or inns (domestic Service)
CHANDLERA candle seller, grocer, provisioner, usually associated with small wares. Usually associated with ship provisions - SHIPS CHANDLER
CHAPEL MASTERHead of a chapel of printers
CHAPELERMade and sold hats
CHAPERONEA matron who attends a young lady in public places for protection or propriety
CHAPMAN or COPEMAN or PETTY CHAPMAN or CEAPMANA dealer or peddler of goods usually itinerant going from village to village. Often sold fabrics such as wool and cotton. Peddler or hawker
CHARCOAL BURNER / MAKERMade charcoal from wood. Charcoal is mostly pure carbon, called char, made by 'cooking' wood in a low oxygen environment. This process took days and burnt off volatile compounds such as water, methane, hydrogen, and tar. Usually the charcoal makers lived near a local wood where trees were regularly cut.
CHARGEROne employed in charging or discounting money
CHARLEY or CHARLIEA night watchman
CHARWOMAN or CHORE WOMANCleaning woman (Domestic service) who usually worked for hourly wages, often on a part-time basis. They usually had several different employers and unike maids, did not 'live-in'.
CHAUNTERA street entertainer who sung ballads (Busker)
CHECK-TAKERA taker of tickets
CHECKWEIGHMANEmployed by a group of miners paid piecework (by the ton mined) to check coal weight recorded by the mine management
CHEESE FACTOR or CHEESEMAN or CHEESE MONGERA dealer in cheeses
CHIFFONIERA rag picker / gatherer
CHILDBED LINEN WAREHOUSE KEEPER or DEALERHired bedlinen mostly for childbirth as most children were born at home
CHIMNEY SWEEP Chimney cleaner -In Victorian times he would usually employ young children to ascend the chimneys
CHINGLER or SHINGLERRoofer - who used wooden shingles
CHIP or CHIPPYShipwright or carpenter
CHIPPERS LABOURERAssistant to a carpenter
CHIROPODISTTreats diseases and conditions of the feet and hands
CHIRUGION or CHIRURGEONApothecary or surgeon (usually learned by apprenticeship)
CHORISTERA singer - usually in a choir
CHRONOLOGISTRecorded official events of historical importance
CINDER WENCHFemale who collected the cinders from gas works and sold them door to door
CLARKClerk
CLAY CARRIERAssistant to the shot firer in the pits
CLAYMAN or CLEYMANWorked in the clay pits usually preparing the clay for making bricks and also one who coated the outside of buildings with clay to make them water proof
CLERICUSClerk or clergyman
CLERKClergyman or cleric
CLICKERThe servant of a salesman who stands at the door to invite customer in. Worked in the shoe trade cutting out the lowers. One in charge of the final stage of layout before printing
CLIPPERAttached the coal carts to the wire or rope which was used to drag the carts to and from the coal face. Sheep shearer. A person who clips - e.g. Chips edges of coin
CLOD HOPPERPlowman (rustic) A clown
CLOGGERMaker of wooden shoes - clogs
CLOISTRESSA nun
CLOTH LAPPERTook the cloth from the carding machine readied it for the next process
CLOTH LINTER or CLOTH PICKERRemoved unwanted threads and lint from the finished material
CLOTHIER or CLOTHESMAN or CLOTHMANPerson who made or sold clothes
CLOUTERMade nails and another name for a shoemaker
COACHMAN or COACHER or COACH DRIVERDrove any coach
COAL BACKERCarried the sacks of coal from the coal barge to the coal wagons. A coal porter at ship docks
COAL DRAWERWorked in the mines pushing or dragging the coal carts to the bottom of the pit
COAL FITTERConducts the sales between the owner of a coal pit and coal merchant
COAL GETTEROne employed in digging, or in getting out by digging. Miner who worked at the coal face
COAL HEAVERUnloaded coal
COAL RUNNERAttended the coal carts underground
COAL TRIMMER A coal trimmer was a man who worked as part of a team distributing the coal into the hold of a ship. His job involved dealing with all coal handling tasks from the loading to its delivery to the stoker.
COAL WHIPPERUnloaded coal from ships using baskets attached to a simple form of crane
COALEROne who makes a business supplying or transporting coal
COALMAN or COAL MERCHANT or COAL HIGGLERSold coal usually from a horse and cart, house to house.
COALMETEROne appointed to measure the coal
COAST SURVEYOR or WAITERCustoms officer who watched over the off loading of goods on the coast
COASTAL-PILOTA pilot who conducted vessels along the coast
COASTGUARDA body of men employed to prevent smuggling around the coast, now also to provide rescuie services at sea (mainly)
COBBLERShoemaker
COBLEMANA fisherman who used a flat bottomed boat
COD PLACERPut fire proof containers, which held the pottery for firing, into the kiln
CODDERA gatherer of cods or pease
COINERWorked at the mint stamping out coins
COLLAR MAKERMade either horse collars or male shirt collars
COLLIERCoal miner, a coal merchant or one who worked on the coal barges
COLOUR MANPreparer and seller of colours. Mixed the dyes in the textile trade and also assistant to a house painter
COLOUR SERGEANTChief sergeant of a company
COLOURATOR or COLORATORAWorked with dyes
COLPORTEURTravelling Bible or religious books and pamphlets salesman
COMB MAKERMade combs either for the textile industry for combing wool etc. or the maker of hair combs
COMBER or COMBERECombed wool during preparation
COMPOSITORSet the type ready for printing
CONDER or CONNERGave steering instructions to the steersman and also gave directions to inshore fisherman of fish movements on shoals (usually from the top of cliffs or rocks)
CONEY or CONY CATCHERRabbit catcher
CONFECTIONERSweet / candy maker
CONNERInspector or tester
COOPER or CUPERMaker of wooden barrels
COPEMAN or COPERDealer in goods and also dishonest dealer. A marketman. Coper - is also a dealer in horses on a limited scale
COPPERBEATER or COPPERBETERCoppersmith
COPPERSMITHWorked with copper. Made household and jewellery items from copper
CORACLE MAKERMade coracles, a small round boat used for fishing
CORDINER or CORDWAINER or CORVINER or CORVISOROriginally term used for one who worked with Cordovan (a special leather from Spain) but later term used for shoemaker
CORK SOCK MAKERA cutter of inner soles of cork for shoes, helping to keep feet dry and comfortable.
CORNET This was the lowest officer rank in the cavalry. (See also Ensign, ordinary seaman and Midshipman)
CORPORALLowest none-commissioned officer
COSTER WIFEFemale fruit seller
COSTERMONGERFruit seller
COTILER or COLOTIER or COLETERMaker of Cutlery. Cutler. A knife seller or sharpner
COTTAGERA rural labourer
COTTER or COTTARIn Scotland a peasant occupying a small holding. in Highlands, a farm worker in a crofting parish who occupies a cottage and small holding rent free in return for casual services on landlord's farm or estate; if holding is pasture land, as for shepherd; if arable land, as for small holder; (ii) in South of Scotland, a ploughman, shepherd, cattleman, or woman worker on a farm who lives rent free in a cot house or on the farm as part payment for services. Irish equivalent - cottar.
COTTIERA peasant cottager
COUPERA trader in commodities / goods (In Scotland)
COUPLERA man or boy who worked on the haulage system coupling tubs together in mines
COURANTEERA Journalist
COW LEECH (LEACH)Forerunner of a cattle vet
COWHERDERCow tender
COWKEEPERKept one or more cows (a common source of livelihood in cities) when a cow was kept in the back yard of a house, providing milk which was sold at the front door or window, forerunner of the local dairy
COXWAIN or COXSWAINShip or boat helmsman
CRATCH MAKERMade cratches e.g. mangers, cribs, or frames
CRIERLaw court officer, auctioneer, town announcer
CRIMPERMember of army or navy press gang. One who decoys people to a place where they are robbed or pressed into service.
CROCKERPotter
CROFTERTenant of a small piece of land
CROPPER or SHARE CROPPERA tenant who works land in return for a share of the yield.
CROSIER or CROZIERBearer of the pastoral staff of a bishop or the bearer of the cross before the archbishop in the church
CROWNERCoroner
CULVERA person who kept pigeons
CURERCures various foodstuff (eg ham, fish, tobacco)
CURRIERA man who dresses and colours leather after it is tanned.
CUTLERKnife seller or sharpener

DAGUERREOTYPISTEarly name for a photographer using silver plate (from the Daguerreotype method)
DAIRYMANWorker or owner of a dairy farm or seller of dairy products
DAMSTERBuilder of dams for logging purposes
DANTERFemale overseer in the winding rooms of a silk mill
DATALER (DATAL MAN)Lancashire, North of England and Somerset term ; a casual labourer who works by the day on any job performed by the ordinary farm labourer.
DARRICKER /DARRIKERA casual worker, or odd man, engaged to assist some other worker and may undertake any work, e.g., piecework, haymaking, hoeing, hedge cutting; obsolescent.
DAY MANCasual worker, usually employed by the day
DEATHSMANExecutioner
DECOYMANEmployed to decoy the wild fowl, animals etc into a trap or within shooting range
DELVERCan refer to any sort of excavating role, such as mining, stone quarrying, ditch digging or pit digging. E.G. Someone who used a spade to dig ditches, or someone who excavated stone. In the latter example the Delver after cutting the stone would carry it up wooden ladders from the bottom of the shaft, in large leather bags that were strapped to their back. A very strenuous and dangerous job that resulted in many deaths.
DEPUTYSafety officer for the pit crew in the mining industry
DERRICKMANWorked on an oil well handling the tubes and rods used in drilling
DEVILLEROperated the devil, a machine that tore rags used in the textile industry
DEW POND MAKER A person who created ponds on the Downs for local famers to water their livestock. (also known as Mist, Cloud or Fog ponds). The pond was an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill and used in areas where a natural supply of surface water was not readily available. It is believed that the creation of dew ponds is an ancient craft. Rainfall was believed to be the main source - rather than dew or mist.
DEY WIFE Female dairy worker
DIKEMAN or DYKEMAN Hedger or ditcher. Digger of dykes and drainage ditches
DIPPEROne who worked in the pottery trade and was responsible for the glazing of items
DISH TURNEROne who made wooden bowls or dishes
DISTILLERBrewer of alcoholic beverages
DITCHER(Also drainage labourer) Digs out the channels of ditches or watercourses on a farm or landed estate; builds up the banks with the soil dug out; cuts thistles and clears weeds with sickle and rake drainage labourer (Related jobs; hedger)
DOCK MASTERPerson in charge of a dockyard
DOCKER or DOCK WALLOPERdock worker, longshoreman
DOCTOR'S MANPerson who went from house to house collecting owed doctor's fees
DOFFERUnloaded full bobbins from a spinning machine
DOG LEECHVeterinarian
DOG-WHIPPERDrove dogs away in a village (modern day dog catcher)
DOMESMANJudge or umpire
DOMESTICHousehold servant
DOOR KEEPERGuard, janitor, or porter
DOUBLEROperated a machine used to twist together strands of fibre (cotton, wool etc)
DOWSER or DIVINERWater finder
DRAGMANA fisherman who used a dragnet. A net that is dragged along the bottom of the sea.
DRAGOONA mounted soldier who carried an infantry weapon such as a `dragon` or short musket,
DRAGSMANThe driver of a drag or coach. A thief who follows carriages to cut away luggage from behind. One engaged in dragging a a river, lake, pond, harbor, or the like, in search of something.
DRAPERDealer in fabrics and sewing needs
DRAWBOYWeavers assistant in the shawl making mills , they sat atop the looms and lifted the heavy warps.
DRAWERThe person who was employed by the collier (mines) to take full tubs from the workplace to the haulage and bring back empty tubs
DRAYMAN:Cart driver
DREDGERMAN or DREDGEROne engaged in dredging. (To clean out by means of a dredge - net)
DRESSEROne who dresses another. A surgeon's assistant. Also one who operated a machine which prepared threads in the textile industry
DRIFT MAKERMade drift nets, used in the fishing industry
DRIPPING MANDealer in dripping - the fat collected during the cooking of meats. Often used to roast potatoes or spread on bread with salt to make a 'dripping butty'.
DRIVERSlave overseer
DROVERSheep or cattle driver
DROWNER(Also known as a Waterman) A man who understood irrigation. He was appointed to control the watering of the common water meadows, especially in Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon and Hampshire.
DRUMMERTraveling salesman - as in 'to drum up sales'
DRY SALTERA dealer in salted or dried meats, pickles, sauces, etc. Or a dealer in dyestuffs, chemical products / preparations. Drysalters usually sold a number of saline substances and miscellaneous drugs.
DRY STONE WALLERBuilt stone walls. (Mostly farmers wanting to restrict their livestock) No cement or mortar was used just stones of varying sizes that they fitted together to make a substantial wall.
DUBBEREA cloth dubber - , one who raises the nap of cloth
DUFFERPeddler or hawker of cheap goods. Especially one who takes orders for dress goods by samples. Also one who sells spurious or flashy articles represented as stolen or smuggled.
DUSTMAN or DUSTBIN MANA collecter/remover of domestic refuse, ashes etc.
DYEREmployed in the textile mills to colour fabric prior to weaving

EARERA ploughman or tiller
EARTH STOPPEROne who plugs up animal holes e.g. rabbits, badgers, foxes
EBONITE TURNEROne who worked with ebonite or vulcanite, making combs or ornaments etc
EGG FACTOR or EGGLEROne who gathers, or deals in, eggs. Egg or poultry dealer
ELEPHANTS TEETH DEALEROne who dealt in ivory ornaments etc
EMBOSSERA person who moulded or carved designs that were raised above the surface of the material
EMPRESARIO or IMPRESARIO(Former USA) Land broker, settlement scheme promoter, ( Latter UK) showman, organiser of concerts / festivals, Entrepreneur
ENGINE DRIVERTrain driver
ENGINE MANEmployed at a mine to be in charge of the machinery used to crush the ore
ENGINE TENTER or TENTERSomeone who is in charge of machinery, usually in a factory. The word is closely related to the word "tend" so he is someone who "tends, or looks after the engine.
ENSIGNThe lowest officer rank in the Army in the infantry and navy. The equivalent cavalry rank was Cornet. These were roughly equivalent to a naval Midshipman. The Royal Navy never had Ensign however the United States Navy did, (and still has), as the lowest officer rank.
ENUMERATOROne who collected the information for the census from the householder and recorded it
EQUERRYOfficer of the royal household usually responsible for the royal horses
EREMITE or HERMITA person who chooses to live a solitary life
ESQUIREA man of standing in society. (Originaly one who attended a knight)
ESTAFETTE or EXPRESSMANExpress courier - usually military. A special messenger who delivered goods quickly.
EWE HERDShepherd
EWERWater carrier. Man who came round with water.
EXCHEQUERRevenue collector
EXCISEMANExcise tax collector
EYER or HOLERMaker of eyes in sewing needles

FABERA skilled workman -carpenter, wheelwright, shipwright (Quite often working with wood). Skilled artisan
FABRICATORA maker of a product - to fabricate something e.g. metalworker, woodworker, ironworker
FACTORA person who acts for another, notably a mercantile and/or colonial agent. Also a Scottish term for an estate steward responsible for collecting land rents.
fa*gETTERMade up fa*ggots into bundles, seller of firewood
fa*gOTA man formerly hired to fill a vacancy in a military company on a muster day.
FAKERA person who dressed up black and white photographs by a hand in colour before colour film was available. Photographic assistant
FALCONER or FAWKNERTrainer / handler of falcons - birds used for hunting. A person skilled in the art of falconry
FANCY MANA pimp. An agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings for services rendered.
FANCY PEARL WORKERMade fancy goods in mother-of-pearl
FANCY WOMANA prostitute. Offering sexual favours for money
FANNERSee grain winnower
FANWRIGHTA maker and repairer of fans or winnowing baskets
FARMERFarmers work the land, either arigulturaly or with livestock. In the past they were usually descendants of gentry and noble classes. Besides farm workers they often having servants.
FARRIER or FERROURHorse sho*r -often referred to as a blacksmith
FAWKNERTrainer of falcons
FEAR NOTHING MAKERA weaver of special kind of strong thick woollen cloth known as fearnought (or dreadnought) - a heavy overcoating that is made of wool often mixed with shoddy. Used as protective clothing, also as lining for portholes, walls, and doors of powder magazines on board ships.
FEATHER BEATER or FEATHER DRIVERCleaner of feathers
FEATHER-DRESSEROne who prepared feathers for sale
FEATHERMANAgent who dealt in feathers
FELL MONGERA dealer in fells or hide. Someone who sells or works with animal hides and skins. A dealer in fells or sheepskins, who separates the wool from the pelts
FELLER Woodcutter
FELTERWorker in the hatting industry
FERONERSee Ironmonger
FERRETERA manufacturer or trader dealing in ferret - a narrow piece of tape used to bind or edge fabric. Or a ferret keeper/dealer
FETTLERSomeone who keeps things in good order (fettle), neat and tidy. Applied to several occupations such as; one who cleaned the machinery in woollen mills, removing accumulated fibres, grease, etc. One who sharpened the fustian cutters knives or needlemaker who filed the needle to a point. One who grinds and sands ceramic products (eg tiles) to remove defects or rough spots. This could be done using wire or stiff brush or power grinder. Smooths (fettles) edges and surface of product, using sandpaper or handstone. Discards broken or poorly pressed tile. Stacks ceramic tile or clay slates in specified pattern on boards, plates, trays, or in saggers. May measure dimensions of tile for conformance to specifications, using gauge. May tend machine that automatically fettles tile.
FEWSTERA worker in wood, and specifically one who made the wooden framework of the saddle-tree - the wooden frame part of the horse saddle before being covered with stretched leather
FEWTERER or FEUTERERA keeper of hounds, for hunting or coursing
FIDDLERA person who used a small knife (fiddle) to remove the flashing from cast clay forms such as bowl, creamers, cups or pitchers. Pottery occupation
FILE CUTTERA maker of files, which also involved the cutting of grooves on the file surface
FILIBUSTERA lawless military adventurer, especially one in quest of plunder; a freebooter.
FILLERPerson who filled bobbins in mills
FINE DRAWERInvisible mending. A person employed in tailoring to repair tears in the cloth.
FINISHEROperated machine giving final touches to a manufactured article in various trades; such as curtain finisher, cloth finisher
FIREBEATERLooked after the boilers that powered the cotton mill machinery
FIREMANinspected for, and removed explosive gasses underground in mining or stoked the boilers on ships and locomotives
FISH fa*gA female fish monger
FISHER or FISHDRYVERA provider of fish (especially dried fish)
FISHMONGERA seller of fish - usually via a shop
FITTEROne who fits or adjusts. Eg clothing, machinery, gas etc
FLASHERSpecialist process worker in the glass industry
FLATMAN or FLOATMANPerson who navigated a flat, a broad flat-bottomed boat used for transport, especially in shallow waters
FLAXDRESSERPrepared flax prior to spinning
FLESHEWERButcher
FLESHMONGER or FLESHERButcher or a person who worked in a tannery
FLETCHERArrowsmith (from French fleche)
FLOATERA person who irrigates or floods land to regulate its water content - eg marshes, fields, watermeadows
FLOGGERTo flog. Door to door salesman, peddler
FLOWER GIRL or FLOWER WOMANFemale who sold flowers on the street
FLUSHERMANA person who cleaned out water mains
FLYCOACHMANA driver of one-horse carriage hired by the day
FLYING STATIONERA street broadsheet seller
FLYMANOne who drives a fly (a single horse carriage). One who works the ropes in the flies of a theater
FOOT MAIDENFemale servant
FOOT PADA thief who preys on pedestrians. A highywayman who robs on foot.
FOOT POSTMessenger who travelled on foot delivering letters
FOOT STRAIGHTENERWatchmaking industry. One who straightens timepiece dial, holding feet by using holding device and gauge
FOOTMANServant who ran errands
FORESTERGame warden or forest ranger
FORGEMANBlacksmith or assistant
FORGERBlacksmith, worker at a forge
FOSSETMAKERMan who made faucets for ale-casks, etc
FOWEROne who cleans (fows); as in cooking utensils or house maintenance or street cleaner
FOWLER or FOGLER or FUGLER Keeper or catcher of birds
FRAME SPINNERLoom worker
FRAMEWORKER KNITTERAn operator of hosiery machinery. (Associated occupations within the hosiery industry; Frame Maker, Frame Smith and Frame Mender)
FRESHWATER MANBoatman who plied his trade via fresh water (rivers)
FRISEURA hairdresser
FRUITERERFruit seller
FRUITESTEREFemale fruit seller
FULLERFabric worker who shrinks, beats and presses the cloth (also see WALKER)
FUNAMBULISTA tightrope walker
FUNDHOLDER Not strictly an occupation but something you may come across under the occupation title which indications that the person was able to support themselves financial from their own savings or investments for example stocks and shares.(See also Annuitant or LOOM)
FURBISHEROne who or that which furbishes, or makes bright by rubbing; one who or that which cleans or polishes. E.g. sword cutler, who finishes sword blades and similar weapons. A polisher.
FURRIERA worker, seller or producer of furs

NAGSMANA person who schools horses, usually for his employerNARROW WEAVERA weaver of ribbons, tapes, etc
NAVIGATORA person who navigates e.g waterways, seas and oceans
NAVVYA labourer building canals, roads or railways
NEATHERDA person who has the care of cattle; a cow-keeper.
NECESSARY WOMANA servant responsible for emptying and cleaning chamber pots
NEDELLERA needle maker
NETTERA net maker
NIGHT SOILMAN or NIGHTMANOne who emptied cesspits, ashpits and backyard toilets
NIGHTWALKERA watchman or bellman
NIPPERA lorry boy, a young person employed by the carter or wagoner to assist with the collection and delivery of goods
NOB THATCHERA wig maker
NOTERERA notary

OAT HULLERA person who removed the hull (the dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk, a shell) from oats. This could be done by grinding the oats between two stones (older method- miller) or by heating the oats and then spinning them in a container to remove the hulls (newer method 1900s). Either could be on census. The latter method could be done at home. (Huller - a person who removes the hulls)
OILMANOne who deals in oils; one who is engaged in the business of producing or of selling oil. One who sold oil specifically used for lamps. A retailer who sells vegetable oils, and food preserved in oil. A person who sold the oil for lamps
ORDERLYA soldier who functioned as a servant for an officer
ORDINARY SEAMANAn ordinary Seaman was originally, a sailor of the Ordinary, or ships in reserve and not seagoing. As such these men were considered not to be as skilled as an Able Seaman, who was qualified in seagoing ships. Later, Ords served at sea, under training.
ORRA MANScottish and North of England term ; a skilled handyman on a farm who did odd jobs that did not fall strictly within duties of shepherd, ploughman, thatcher, cattleman etc. (Odd job man) Related jobs: onehanded man ; freehanded man; oddman
ORRICE WEAVERA designer of lace patterns to be woven with silk thread and silk
OSIER PEELER or WITHY PEELERPerson who removed bark from willow rods or osiers which were used in basket weaving, usually women and children
OSTLEROriginally applied to an innkeeper/taverner or one who received guests especially in an monastery (13th century) but later on it came to mean stableboy or a person who looked after horses, coming from the old French 'hostelier'
OUT CRIERAn auctioneer
OUTWORKERA worker who carried on their occupation at home, e.g., cotton or woollen weavers but it applies to many occupations. Also refers to a casual female worker on a farm, thinning turnips, planting potatoes, haymaking, who lived in immediate neighbourhood.
OVERLOOKERA superintendent or overseer, especially in the textile mills (sometimes refered to as 'looker')
OVERMANAn official below Undermanager but above Deputy in mining who checked the miners work and the quality of the mined coal
OWLERA sheep or wool smuggler
OYSTER DREDGERA member of the crew on board an oyster fishing boat

PACK THREAD SPINNEROperator of the machine which made thread or twine
PACKERA packer of goods such as pickles or herring
PACKMANA person who travels with a pack, especially a travelling salesman.
PAINT STAINER A person who hand-printed wallpaper and usually offered a paper-hanging service as well.
PAINTRESSA woman employed in the pottery industry to hand paint the finished articles
PANNIERA robed waiter
PANTERKeeper of the pantry
PANTLERThe servant in charge of the bread and the pantry in a great house
PAPER IRONER or TIMES IRONERA servant responsible for ironing the daily newspaper
PAPER RULEROperated a machine in the 19th century printing industry who was a skilled worker/operator who set up several inking pens in a machine,by the same name, designed to draw or ink lines on paper
PAPEREROne whose occupation is decorating walls with wallpaper.
PARFUMIER or PERFUMERA manufacturer and purveyor of scents such as perfumes, colognes and even incense
PARGETEROne who pargets; a plasterer - walls, ornamental reliefs, chimneys
PARITORA church officer who attended the magistrates and justices at court for the pupose of executing their orders
PASSAGE KEEPERA person who kept passages and alleys clean
PASTELERA pastry chef
PASTORThe word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation
PATTEN MAKERA clog or shoemaker.
PAVER or PAVIOURA person who laid paving stones
PEDASCULEA schoolmaster. One who educates, guides, or instructs
PEEL (OR PADDLE) MAKER A peel maker made the long handled shovels known as peels that were used (and still are) to slide bread dough in and out of an oven quickly and efficiently to avoid losing too much heat from the oven and, for deeper ovens, to allow for easy delivery and collection from the farthest corners of the oven. Also sometimes referred to as paddles
PEELERThe first policemen in London
PELTERERA person who worked with animal skins
PESSONERA fisherman or fishmonger
PEWTERERSomeone who made pewter utensils
PHLEBOTOMISTA person who practices the opening of a vein for letting blood. (see bloodletter)
PHRENOLOGISTA diviner of a person's character based on the bumps on a person's head
PICKER or PICKER MAKERA person who cast the shuttle on a loom. Made the "Pickers" strong, leather attachments fitted to each side of a weaving loom, to drive the shuttle across the loom.
PIECENER or PIECERSomeone who worked in a spinning mill, employed to piece together any threads which broke (usually a child or woman)
PIGMANA farm worker who looks after pigs. One who sold crockery
PIKELET MAKERA baker who specialised in making pikelets (a small teacake or crumpet)
PIKEMANA miner who works with a pike or crowbar. A keeper of a turnpike gate. A solider armed with a pike.
PIKERA cautious gambler. A tramp or vagrant
PILOTA ship steersman
PIMPAn agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings
PIMPMAKER or BAVIN MAKERA man who made up bundles of waste wood in coppices or forests to be sold for use as fuel. (Bundles of Kindling or firewood.)
PINDERAn officer appointed by a parish to impound stray beasts - e.g. dogs, cattle.
PINNERA pin maker
PIPEROne who plays upon a pipe - especially a strolling player, or the bagpipes.
PIRN WINDERSomeone who wound the yarn onto large wheel like bobbins which were then ready to feed the looms in a cotton mill
PIT BROW LASSA female worker who worked on the surface of the mine sorting coal
PITMANA coal miner
PLAIN WORKEROne who performed plain sewing or needlework as opposed to an embroiderer
PLAITERA person that plaits or braids; especially, an implement for producing plaits of regular size, as in cloth. A maker of straw plaits used in the making hats etc
PLANKEROne who planks or kneads the body of the hat during felting
PLANTERSomeone who plants - specifically a pioneer colonist. Or an owner of a plantation
PLATELAYERA railway employee who inspects and maintains the permanent way of a railway installation.
PLEACHER or PLAICHER or PLATCHER or PLASHERTo plait or interlace (branches or vines, for example), especially in making a hedge or an arbor. A hedge layer
PLOUGHMAN or PLOWMANA farmer or farm worker
PLOWWRIGHT or PLOUGHWRIGHTA maker or repairer of plows
PLUMASSIER or PLUMERA person who makes ornamental feathers
PLUMBUM WORKERA plumber
POINTERA person who sharpened needles or pins or lace maker
POINTMAKER or POINTMANSomeone who made the tips of laces
POINTSMAN or SIGNALMANA railway worker who operated the points (and / or signals), that changed the line on which the train was travelling
POLDAVE WORKER:One who made poldave, a coarse fabric
POLEMANA surveyor's assistant
POLLER or POWLEROne who shaves persons or cuts their hair; a barber; a hair-dresser.
PONY DRIVERA person (usually a boy) in charge of a pony which pulled coal tubs along the haulage roads.
PORTERA door or gatekeeper
POST BOYA person who carried mail from town to town, guard who travelled on the mail coach or outrider who travelled with the stagecoach as a postillion
POSTEROne that posts bills or notices.
POSTILLIONOne who rides the near horse of the leaders when four or more horses are used in a carriage or post-chaise, or who rides the near horse when one pair only is used and there is no driver on the box.
POT BOY or POT MANOne who worked in public houses collecting and washing dirty pots also did other menial tasks
POTATO BADGERA seller of potatoes
POTTERA maker or seller of potteryPOTTER THROWERA potter who used a wheel and therefore had to throw the clayPOULTERA seller of poultryPOWER LOOM TUNEROne who maintained the loom in mills
PRECEPTRESSA female instructor or teacher
PRENTISAn apprentice
PRINTER'S DEVILPrinter's errand boy. A printer's devil was an apprentice in a printing establishment who performed a number of tasks, such as mixing tubs of ink and fetching type
PROCTORA supervisor especially of an examination or dormitory in a school.
PROP BOBBYA person who worked in mines checking the pit props
PROPMANCarpenter / Joiner who cut and fixed the props in the mine to shore up the roof and sides of the pit.
PROSTITUTEA person (usually a woman) offering sexual favours for money
PUBLICANAn innkeeper
PUDDLERAn iron foundry worker. Or a man who worked clay into 'puddle', to make things water tight e.g. canal walls
PUG MILL OPERATORMan who operated a machine for mixing clay and water which then produced a pug of clay
PUMPMAKERDenotes a maker of canal locks
PUREFINDER or PURE GATHERER or PUERFINDEROld women and young girls who collected dog droppings from the streets for use in the tanning industry. In tanning, an infusion of the dung of dogs, fowls, or pigeons, used to soften the skins after liming and preparatory to tanning. Also known as bate. The soaking in such an infusion is called puering or bating.
PURSERA ship's officer in charge of provisions & accounts

QUARREL PICKERA glazier
QUARRIER or QUARRYMANA quarry worker
QUILLER:One who operated a machine that wound yarn onto spools
QUILTER or QUILTRESSOne who makes quilted items

RACK MAIDENA girl employed in the tin mines of Cornwall to dress the ore
RAFF MERCHANTA seller of fibre used to make raffia bags etc
RAFFMANOne who dealt in raff (saleable rubbish)
RAFTEROne who is employed in rafting timber, or transporting it in rafts, as from a ship to the shore.
RAG AND BONE MAN or RAG TROTTEROne who went from street to street with a cart collecting any old rubbish, usually in exchange for a small item, e.g. a block of soapstone (also known as donkey stone) which women used to put on their frontdoor step
RAG CUTTEROne who cut up rags into small pieces to be used for making paper etc
RAG GATHERERSEmployed to clear the rags from the machinery in the mills (usually children)
RAG MANOne who went from street to street collecting and selling old clothes and rags
RAG PICKERSomeone who sorted through the left over rags to find re usable ones
RAKERA street-cleaner or scavenger.
RATONER or RATTENER A ratter or rat-catcher.
RECTIFIEROne who distilled alcoholic spirits
REDSMAN or REDDSMAN or REDESMANPerson who was employed in maintaining mine haulage ways
REDSMITH or COPPERSMITHA person who worked with copper.
REEDEROne who worked with reeds for hedging or thatching
REEDMAKEROne who made the pipe for a musical instrument or made a weavers implement (a reed) or reed cloth or the comb used in tapestry
REELEROne who operated the machine that wound the yarn onto the bobbin
REEVEROne who was a clerk or scribe.
REGISTRARAn official who registered events such as land purchases, births, deaths, marriages etc
RELIEVING OFFICER These were officials of the Workhouse who were responsible for assessing the poor of their districts for eligibility for assistance.
RENOVATOROne who repaired clothing
RENT MANCollector of rents for landlord
REVENUER or REVENUE OFFICERA taxman who enforces tax laws
RIGGERA hoist tackle worker; works on a ship's rigging
RIPPEROne who brings fish inland from the coast to market
RIVERMANA worker on a river boat
RIVETER (Glass and China) A person who repaired damaged / broken items by drilling and inserting metal rivets in order to join the broken pieces together. (Looked similar to a modern staple)
ROCKMANA person who worked in a quarry usually placing the charges on the rockface
RODMANA surveyor's assistant
ROLL TURNERA carder of wool, cotton etc into rolls prior to spinning
ROLLER COVEREROne who covered the rollers for the spinning process
ROLLEYWAY MANOne who maintained the underground road in the mines
ROMAN CEMENTER or PLASTEREROne who worked with roman cement used in stuccoing
ROPERA maker of rope or nets
ROVERAn archer or operator of a machine used in cotton mills which prepared the carded fibre into rolls
RUBBLERA person who sorted the small stones in the quarries
RUGMAKEROne who makes rugs
RUGMANA dealer in rugs
RUNNERA smuggler. Messenger and ironically one who worked for the magistrate best remembered as Bow Street Runners
RUSTLERA livestock thief. E.g. Cattle, sheep etc.

SADDLE TREE MAKERA person who makes the wooden frames for the horse saddle before being covered with leather.
SADDLEROne who makes, repairs or sells saddle or other furnishings for horses; harnesses, horse collars, bridles etc.
SAGGAR MAKER or SAGGER MAKEROne who made the fireclay containers in which the stoneware was placed ready for firing
SAGGAR MAKER'S BOTTOM KNOCKERThe saggar maker's assistant who tapped the bottom off the pots
SALT BOILEROne who obtained salt by boiling sea water
SALTER or DRYSALTER or SAUCEROne who made or dealt in salt
SANDESMANAn ambassador or messenger
SANDHOGA laborer who works inside a caisson, as in the construction of tunnels underwater.
SANDWICHMAN:A person who wears a sandwich billboard for advertising
SARCINET WEAVERA silk weaver
SAW DOCTORMade, repaired, maintained and sharpened a wide range of cutting tools and saw blades and also maintained and aligned mechanical parts of a range of production machines
SAWYERA person who saws timber
SAY WEAVEROne who made Say, material used for table cloths or bedding
SCAGIOLA MAKEROne who made imitation marble
SCHRIMPSCHONGERAn artisan who carves in bone, ivory, or wood
SCREENEROne who screened the ore at the mines surface
SCRIBBLEREmployed in a scribbling mill where the wool was roughly carded before spinning
SCRIBEA clerk
SCRIMEROne practised in the use of the sword; a skilful fencer.
SCRIPTURE READEREmployed by the local clergy to go from house to house reading parts of the bible to try and encourage people to attend church, also read scriptures during some services
SCRIVENERA clerk, notary, wrote out legal documents
SCRUTINEEROne who scrutinizes; specifically, one who acts as an examiner of votes, as at an election, etc., to see if they are valid
SCULLION or SCULLERY MAIDFemale servant who performed all the menial tasks
SCUTCHERA person that beat flax to soften the straw in the bundles
SEARCHERCustoms officer whose business it is to search ships, baggage, goods, etc., for prohibited or undeclared articles liable for duty, etc.
SEDGEMANThe skilled workman who applied sedge (type of grass) which was used as an early roofing material
SEEDSMANSower of seeds
SELF ACTING MINDEROne in charge of the automatic spinning mule in the mills
SEMPSTER or SEWSTERA man or woman (Sempstress )employed in sewing: in early use applied to those who sewed leather as well as cloth.
SEWER HUNTERA scavenger who concentrated on the sewers trying to find valuable objects
SEXTONAn employee or officer of a church who cared and upkept church property and sometimes rang bells and dug graves
SHAGREEN CASE MAKER or CASE MAKERWorked with shagreen leather (the skin of a shark, ray etc) or, a granular leather made from horse's or ass's hide.
SHAMBLERA butcher. Slaughterman. (A shamble is a butcher's abattoir)
SHANK MAKERMade shanks of wool
SHEARER or SHEARMAN or SHERMANRemoved the fleece from sheep. A shearer (cutter) of cloth or metal. A barber
SHEARGRINDERPerson who sharpened shears, scissors
SHEATH MAKEROne who made scabbards for swords
SHEEPMANSheep herder, shepherd
SHEET METAL WORKERA person who fabricates products from all types of sheet metal in a workshop. (Skilled man - a time served apprentice)
SHIFTERMiner paid day rate per shift, usually on repair work
SHINGLERAn occupation in the iron foundries. Shingling was the process of hammering puddled iron and as with many iron-making terms it is derived from the French language in this case the word - cinglage. Can also refer to ' Tin Plate Works' And can also be a roof tiler (roofer) who used wooden tiles (shingles). See Bloomer also.
SHIP HUSBANDA repairer of ships while in harbor
SHIP MASTEROwner and / or captain of a ship
SHIPWRIGHTA constructor or repairer or ships
SHOE WIPER or BOOT POLISHERServant who polished shoes
SHOESMITHcobbler, one who shoed horses
SHOT FIREROne in charge of blasting in mines or quarries
SHUNTEROne who moved rolling stock around the railway yards
SHUTTLE MAKEROne who made the shuttles for the weaving mills
SICKLEMANA reaper
SIDESMANA churchman
SILK DRESSEROne who prepared the silk for weaving
SILK MERCEROne who sold cloth and other items made from silk
SILK THROWERA worker in the silk industry
SILK TWISTERA silk spinner
SILKERA person that sewed the ends of the fabric to prvent the layers from separating
SILVERSMITHA person who worked with silver
SIMPLEROne who collects simples, or medicinal plants; a herbalist; a simplist.
SINKER (PIT SINKER)A skilled man who was contracted to sink new shafts in mines.
SISSOR or CISSORTailor
SIZERA persion that applied size to cloth or worked in a paper mill
SKEINERA worker who winds unfinished cloth into skein form for boiling off
SKEPPER or SKELPER or SKEPPRNE or SKEPPERNEA person who makes and sells woven beehives
SKINKEROne who draws or pours out. A server of drink; the landlord of an alehouse or tavern. (incidently 'Schenken' in Dutch translates as 'Pour Out' and is pronounced skenken)
SKINNERA dealer in hides
SKIPMAKER:One who made the skips used in mining and quarrying for moving men or materials to the surface
SKIPPERA master of a ship
SLAPPER or SLAPEROne who worked in a pottery preparing the clay for the potter
SLATERRoofer
SLAYMAKERA maker of slay's - The reed of a weavers' loom
SLINGERCornish term ; a casual labourer employed for short periods on different farms; rarely works regularly on one farm.
SLOPSELLERA dealer in cheap ready-made clothing
SLUBBEROperated the machine used to prepare cotton for spinning
SLUBBER DOFFERRemoved the bobbins from the spindles in the mills
SMACKMANOne worked on a sailing ship (a smack, as a sloop or cutter, that was used chiefly in coasting and fishing
SMALLWARE MAKERMade smallware, e.g. tapes, braids etc
SMELTERWorker in a metal smelter, smelt fisherman
SMIDDYDialectal variant of smithy - A smith
SMITHMetal worker
SNAFFLE MAKER A snaffle maker makes the snaffle bit - the most common type of bit used while riding horses. It consists of a bit mouthpiece with a ring on either side and acts with direct pressureThe snaffle bit works on several parts of the horse's mouth; the mouthpiece of the bit acts on the tongue and bars, the lips of the horse also feel pressure from both the mouthpiece and the rings.
SNAPPERWorker in glass factory who placed molded bottle (by neck) into furnace hole
SNOBA shoemaker; a journeyman shoemaker
SNUFFER MAKERMade the candle snuffer
SOAP BOILER (SOPER)Soap maker
SOJOURNER CLOTHIERA travelling clothes salesman
SOLICITORLawyer
SORTORTailor
SOUTERShoe maker or cobbler in Scotland
SPALLIER or SPALDERTin worker who performs chiefly menial tasks
SPICERGrocer or dealer in spices
SPINNERSpins yarn
SPLITTEROperated a splitting machine or one who split things by hand, e.g. stone, timber etc
SPOONERMade spoons
SPRING MAKERMaker of springs for coaches etc.
SPURRER or SPURRIERA maker of spurs
SPUR ROWEL MAKER Mades the rowel that attaches to the spur - a revolving wheel or disk with radiating "points" at the end attached to the shank of the spur.
SQUIREPractitioner of a profession, a gentleman
STABLEROstler
STAITHMANA man employed in weighing and shipping at a staith (a landing place: an elevated staging upon a wharf, bank, shore).
STALLMANKeeper of a market stall
STATIONERBookseller, seller of paper & writing implements
STATISTA statesman; a politician; one skilled in government. A statistician
STAY MAKERA corset maker
STEEPLEJACKOne who climbs steeples (churches) etc to do repairs etc. Also commonly employed in the north of England to repair the tall chimneys attached to cotton mills
STEERSMANA ship's helmsman
STENTEREROne who operated the cloth finishing machine
STEP BOY Employed to help passengers to enter or leave the coach
STEVEDOREA labourer who unloads and loads ships' cargoes
STEWARDManager of property, purveyor of supplies or someone who attended passengers on conveyance
STOCKINGERA knitter, weaver, or dealer in stockings
STOKEROne who tends the fire of an steam engine boiler originally
STONE GETTERWorked in quarry
STONE PICKERA man employed to remove the stones from the farmers fields before planting
STONE WORKERSA person who worked with stone eg masons, quarriers etc
STOREMANA person responsible for stored goods
STOVE GRATE PATTERN MAKERManufactured and installed stove grates. In 1901 there were many stove grate works.
STRAPPERa casual labourer, employed to do odd work in fields or about the farm.
STRAW JOINEROne who thatched roofs
STRAW PLAITEROne who made straw braids for the hat industry
STREET ORDERLY Street cleaner
STRINGEROne who strings. One who makes or furnishes strings for a bow
STUFF WEAVERWove stuff (the coarse part of flax)
SUMPTERThe driver of a pack horse
SUTLERAn army camp follower who peddled provisions to the soldiers
SWAINHerdsman
SWEEPChimneysweep
SWINEYARD or SWINEHERDERPig keeper
SWINGLEROne who beats flax to remove woody parts
SWORD CUTLERA sword maker

TABLEROne who keeps boarders.
TACKLERAn overlooker of power loom weavers
TACKSMANA middleman who leased a large piece of land from the owner and sublet it in small lots
TAILOROne who made or repaired clothes
TALLOW CHANDLEROne who made or sold candles
TALLY CLERKOne who kept count of goods arriving or departing from warehouses, docks etc
TALLYMAN or TALLIEROne who sells by sample goods to be delivered afterward, or who takes orders for such goods. One who keeps a tally-shop, selling goods on short credit, the accounts of which are kept by a system of tallies, without regular book-accounts
TAN BARK STRIPPEROne who collected the bark that was used in the tanning process
TANNERTanned (cured) animal hides for leather making
TANNEYA leather worker
TAPE WEAVERPerson who weaves cotton tape - up to a couple of inches wide
TAPER WEAVEROne who made the wicks for candles
TAPITER or TAPICEROne who weaves worsted cloth
TAPSTEROne who puts the tap in an ale cask
TAVERNERAn innkeeper
TAWER or TAWYEROne who taws (bleaches) skins; a maker of white leather.
THATCHEROne who covered roofs with straw or reeds. (Also rick crowder)
THIRD-BOROUGHA constable, or an under-constable.
TIDE GAUGER or SURVEYORPerson who monitored the state of the tide
TIDESMAN or TIDE WAITERA customs official
TIEMAKEROne who made wooden railway ties
TIGERA liveried groom attending in a light vehicle. For example he could be a tiger in a dogcart - a light horse-drawn vehicle, originally designed for sporting shooters, with a box behind the driver's seat to contain one or more retriever dogs. The dog box could be converted to a second seat. A young or small groom called a "tiger" might stand on a platform at the rear of a dogcart, to help or serve the driver.
TILER:One who put tiles in place either on the roof or floor
TILLERA farmer
TILLMANA ploughman
TIN BASHER Slang for a Sheet Metal Worker.
TIN DRESSER (or copper dresser) Women and younger girls who dressed the ore brought up from underground. It was hard, physical work and a dirty job which took knowledge and considerable concentration.
TINCTORA dyer
TINKERA travelling repairman or salesman (not well respected)
TINMANA tinsmith or tinker
TINNERTin miner, tinsmith
TINTER OR TEINTERArtists who performs tinting
TIPPER or FLETCHEROne who put the metal tips on arrows etc
TIPSTAFFAn officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable.
TIREWOMANA woman employed to dress, or to attend to the dressing or dresses of, others; a lady's-maid; a female dresser in a theater; a tiring-woman
TOBACCO SPINNERMaker of cigars
TOBBACO PACKER or TOBACCO MOULDERPacked or moulded tobacco leaves
TOLLER or TOLLGATE KEEPER or TOLLIE or TOLMAN or TURNPIKE KEEPERWorker at the toll gate to collect fees for use of the road
TOOL HELVERMade tool handles
TOP SAWYERUpper man in a saw pit
TOPMANSailor who works in the ship's rigging
TOSHER Was someone who scavenged in the sewers, especially in London during the Victorian era
TOUCH HOLEROne who worked in the gun manufacturing industry
TOW CARD MAKEROne who made tow cards, used in the textile industry
TOWN CHAMBERLAINOne who looked after the towns affairs
TOWN CRIEROne who made public announcments in the streets
TOWNS WAITERCustoms man
TOZERWorked in the wool mills employed to tose or tease the cloth
TRAPPEREmployed in the mines to open and shut the doors for the miners
TREENAIL MAKEROne who made the long wooden pins used in shipbuilding
TRIMMERA person who trims a ship by re-arranging its cargo to distribute the weight properly
TRIPE DRESSERA butcher . One who prepares tripe for sale. (The lining of the stomach of a ruminant (especially a bovine) used as food)
TRONERA weighing official at the markets
TROTTERA messenger
TUBBER or COOPEROne who made tubs and barrels
TUBMANA barrister in the Court of Exchequer in England who had a precedence in motions.
TUCKER INA maid who attended the bedroom and "tucked in the bedclothes"
TRUG MAKER One who makes baskets with wooden strips, as in the Sussex Trug. Mostly Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Wiltshire. People used them to carry flowers, grains and for vegetables and fruit gathering. It was Queen Victoria who made them popular as garden accessories after she saw them at the Great Exhibition of 1851
TURNERA lathe worker
TURNKEYA prison warden or jail keeper
TURNSPITOne who operated the spit handle
TWEENIE or TWEENYA servant who works between two others, or assists both. A between-maid, or maidservant who helps the cook as well as the housemai. A maid who worked "between the stairs" she assisted the cooks and the housemaids
TWISTER or TWISTERERA person who joined the ends of a fresh beam of threads onto the warp already on the loom. A sitting-down job, sometimes done by people who were crippled.

ULNAGEROne appointed to examine the quality of woollen goods to be sold
UNDERVIEWERA junior official in charge of mine in 'viewer's' absence
UPHOLDER or UNHOLSTERERFurniture seller - mainly chairs and couches

VALETA male servant that attended a nobleman or gentleman
VALUATOROne who valued objects
VASSALA servant of the lowest order
VATMANOne who put the paper pulp into the moulds in paper-making industry or worked with vats e.g. in beer and wine making
VENATOR or VENURA huntsman
VERGERChurch official, acting as usher or pew opener
VERMIN DESTROYERRat catcher. Pest controller
VICTUALER or VICTUALLERA seller of food/drink - Usually refers to an Innkeeper
VINTAGERA harvester of grapes
VINTNER or VINTERA wine merchant
VULCANA blacksmith

WABSTERA weaver
WAD MANA person who supplied wadding for packing, stuffing, padding
WAGONERWagon or cart driver
WAIN HOUSE PROPRIETOROwner of a building where wagons could be parked for a fee
WAINWRIGHTBuilder or repairer of wagons
WAITER or TIDE WAITER or CUSTOMS OFFICEROne who waited on the tide to collect duty on goods brought in
WAITMAN or WATCHMANNight watchman who guarded the gates of a city, usually marking the hours with the ringing of a small bell
WAKERPerson whose job was to wake workers in time for early morning work
WALKING-STICK FILEROne who made walking sticks
WALLEROne who built walls either brick or dry stone - also a person who worked making coarse salt
WARDERPerson in charge of prisoners
WAREHOUSEMANA person in charge of a warehouse
WARP DRESSERWarping-mill operator. Operated a machine to wind yarn from packages onto reel and from reel onto loom beams to prepare multiple colored warps for weaving
WARPER or WARP BEAMEA textile worker who arranged the individual yarns which created the "warp" of the fabric upon a large cylinder called a beam. A beamer. A person who set the warp thread on the looms or employed to move boats by hauling on the warps (the ropes attached to the boats)
WARRENERIn charge of a portion of land used for breeding rabbits and other small game
WASTEMANChecked the old workings for gas and maintaining them in the mines or employed to remove waste
WATCH FINISHERAssembled watches and clocks
WATCHMANTown official who guarded the streets at night
WATER BAILIFFOfficial in charge of the fishing rights on a stretch of water
WATER CARRIERCarted and sold fresh water
WATER LEADER or LEDER or LODERA person who transported and sold fresh drinking water
WATERGUARDA customs officer
WATERMANWorked with or on boats usually on rivers
WATTLE HURDLE MAKERMade a type of fence / enclosures from wattle to keep sheep in
WAY-MAKEROne employed to make roads. One who makes a way; a pioneer; a pathfinder.
WEAVERA person who runs one or more looms to weave cloth. The more looms, the more money. Weaving is a very noisy operation, leaving many weavers deaf. Whether deaf or not, most weavers will have learned to lip-read since this is the only way to hold a conversation in the weaving shed.
WEBSTERWeaver (originally a female weaver)
WEIGHERWorked on the docks to weigh the cargo as it was unloaded
WELL SINKERSomeone who dug wells
WELL WRIGHTMade the winding equipment used to raise the bucket in the well
WELLMASTEROne in charge of the local well with the responsibility of ensuring clean water for the village
WET GLOVERLeather glove maker
WET NURSEWoman employed to suckle tthe child of another (common practice with the rich)
WETTERDampens paper during the printing process or in the glass industry who detached the glass by wetting
WHARFINGEROne who owns or manages a wharf.
WHEELWRIGHT or WRIGHTA maker of wheels for carts
WHEY CUTTERWorker in the cheese industry.
WHIFFLERA herald or usher; a person who leads the way, or prepares the way, for another: probably so called because the pipers usually led the procession.
WHIPCORD MAKER or WHIPMAKEROne who made whips
WHIPPER-IN Involved in the hunting on large estates. Managed the hunting hounds and came under the command of the Huntsman.
WHITE COOPEROne who makes barrels from tin or other light metals
WHITE LIMERA person who plastered walls using lime and water plaster
WHITE SMITH or WHITESMITHA whitesmith is a person who works with "white" or light-coloured metals such as tin and pewter. Their majority of their work is with cold metal
WHITENER or WHITESTER or WHITSTEROne who bleached cloth
WHITEWASHERWhitewashed the walls of cottages
WILLOW PLAITER or WEAVEROne who made baskets etc
WINDEREither a Beamer, or someone who winds thread onto the spindles used in shuttles
WINDSTERSilk winder
WOOL DRIVEROne who brought the wool to market
WOOL FACTORWool merchants agent
WOOL MAN /WOOL SORTER or STAPLEROne who sorted the wool into different grades
WOOL WINDEROne who made up balls of wool for selling
WOOLCOMBEROperated machinery that separates the fibres ready for spinning in woollen industry
WOOLEN BILLY PIECERWorked in the woollen mills to piece together the broken yarns
WOONTCATCHERA mole catcher (North Staffs dialect "oont" or "woont", meaning mole
WRIGHTBuilder or repairer. A skilled worker in various trades

XYLOGRAPHEROne who used and made wooden blocks used in printing illustrations

YARDMANA rail, road or yard worker
YEARMANOne contracted to work for a year
YEOMANA farmer who owns his own land

ZINCOGRAPHERA designer who etched in relief a pattern on zinc plates used for printing
ZOOGRAPHEROne who classifies species of animals
ZUMOLOGISTOne who is skilled in the fermentation of liquors
ZYTHEPSARISTA brewer

List of Old English Occupations and descriptions (2024)

FAQs

What job did a Carter do? ›

A carter was similar to a haggler, but everything about him was smaller and perhaps cleaner, too. The carter might work with a pony and trap, even a donkey. Many carters worked carrying produce from the country into the towns on market days.

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What occupation was a Grainer? ›

Updated Sun, 08-Dec-2013

Old Name	New Name or Meaning
Grace Wife	Midwife
Graffer	Notary or scrivener
Grainer	Painted wood grain effect
Granger	Farmer

60 more rows

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What profession was a nailer? ›

The cloutier, or nailer/nailor, was a manufacturer and seller of nails. In New France, all nails were hand-wrought in a forge, made of wrought-iron. After heating a rod in a forge, the nailer would hammer the four sides of the softened end to form a point.

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What is a brazier occupation? ›

Braziers operate various equipment and machinery such as torches, soldering irons, fluxes and welding machines in order to join two metal pieces together, by heating, melting and forming a metal filler inbetween them, often brass or copper.

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What profession is a caster? ›

A metal caster is someone who takes the molten liquid metal and pours it into casts or molds to form metal shapes that, when cooled, are sanded, ground, and polished before being finished.

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What is a carman in England? ›

Carman/Charman/Carrier/ Carter/Cartman. Driver of (horse-drawn) vehicles for transporting goods. Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels. Modern day van driver.

What is a Higgler occupation? ›

1) A hawker or itinerant salesman, one who bargained or haggled.

What occupation was a Glover? ›

The master glovers, who were usually men, would hand out bundles of cut skins or other material to a carrier woman who distributed these to the women outworkers in their homes where they would be hand sewn.

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What is a Rover occupation? ›

Cotton Rover: a textile industry worker, transferred cotton yarn onto bobbins.

What was an iron turner? ›

Iron Turner: a lathe operator who made items from iron.

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What did a Carter do in England? ›

Carter is of Irish, Scottish and English origin and is an occupational name given to one who transports goods by cart or wagon ultimately of Celtic derivation.

What was a carrier? ›

A carrier, as related to genetics, is an individual who “carries” and can pass on to its offspring a genomic variant (allele) associated with a disease (or trait) that is inherited in an autosomal recessive or sex-linked manner, and who does not show symptoms of that disease (or features of that trait).

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What was a coal porter? ›

Coal Porter: a physically demanding job, carrying sacks of coal. Coal Runner: worked in a coal mine as a cart attendant. Coal Thruster: another term for a Hurrier; a woman or child working in a coal mine, pulling carts or wagons of coal through tunnels.

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What was a coal Higgler? ›

Home / Coal & Rail / Higglers. Higglers- a person who travels around selling small items; a pedlar. For more than eight centuries coal and sandstone were extracted in the village for local use and for sale to a wide area around.

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What was the most common job in the 1800s? ›

Farming was by far the most common occupation in 19th century America and Europe. Farm laborers assisted with farm work but did not own their own land. They worked hard during planting and harvesting, cared for animals, and made necessary repairs around the farm.

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What is a well sinker? ›

one who sinks or digs wells. See also: Well.

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What is a sinker maker? ›

Sinker Maker: manufactured lead sinkers for fishing lines, or the lead weights for knitting machinery.

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What is a cotton dresser? ›

Cotton Dresser. Operator who assembled the yarns or threads prior to weaving of cloth.

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What is a yarn dresser? ›

Yarn Dresser: worked in the textile industry, responsible for preparing flax fibres. Yatman: another name for a gatekeeper.

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What is a cloth lapper? ›

Cloth Lapper: a textile industry worker who transferred yarn between machines.

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What was a blacking maker? ›

Updated Fri, 16-Mar-2018

Old Name	New Name or Meaning
Blacking Maker	Made boot polish (usually using soot)
Bladesmith	Made swords, knives etc.
Blaxter / Bleacher /Bleacherer	Bleached cloth or wood pulp for paper in a "Bleachery"
Blemmere	Plumber

111 more rows

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What is an ironstone worker? ›

Ironstone mining was gruelling, dangerous work. The men who did it worked long hours underground, and it was hard, physical work, blasting the rock from the earth, then breaking up the stone with sledgehammers and wedges, to be carried in wagons up to the surface.

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What is an annuitant genealogy? ›

An Annuitant was someone who recieved a annuity ie a regular payment from a grant or such, very similar to the modern day pensions paid out from invested money.

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What nationality is the surname Carter? ›

Carter is a name of Irish, English and Scottish extraction. The origin of the surname Carter is mostly occupational, deriving from someone who used a wagon or cart to transport goods from place to place. Carter can also stem from the Gaelic word 'cairtear', a description of someone who is a traveller or non-native.

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What does the Carter coat of arms mean? ›

What does the Coat of Arms mean? The Carter Society coat of arms reflects our recognition of the early families joined, one to another, in spirit, if not by blood.

How many carters are there in the world? ›

Carter's

Type	Public
Founded	1865 (as William Carter Company) Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Founder	William Carter
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Number of locations	750 (November 2019)

7 more rows

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What jobs were in the Victorian era? ›

Contents

1.1 Leech collector.
1.2 Pure Finder.
1.3 Tosher.
1.4 Mudlark.
1.5 Rat Catcher.
1.6 Resurrectionists.
1.7 Matchstick makers and sellers.
1.8 Chimney Sweep.

More items...

3 May 2021

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What is a cottage person? ›

someone who lives in a cottage. synonyms: cottager. type of: denizen, dweller, habitant, indweller, inhabitant. a person who inhabits a particular place.

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When were cottages invented? ›

The first known "cottages" were built in Russia in the 19th century, when British culture was popular.

What is a cottager in England? ›

a person who lives in a cottage.

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What was a Delfman? ›

Delfman. Sold "Delf", which is earthenware from Delft, Holland. Delfsman / Delphman. Worker in quarries or open pits, usually quarrying stone. Delver.

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What was a hawker in 1891? ›

Although the words costermonger, hawker and pedlar were used interchangeably, the costermonger or hawker was, technically speaking, someone who sold his wares by crying them out in the street. The pedlar travelled the countryside with his wares, visiting houses along the way to sell them.

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How many carriers has England? ›

two carriers

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What was the first occupation? ›

Agriculture was the first occupation of man, and as it embraces the whole earth, it is the foundation of other industries”. Agriculture is one of the oldest and most fundamental primary occupation of all human beings since stone age.

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What is the oldest known profession? ›

Prostitution = The World's Oldest Profession

The earliest known record of prostitution dates back to 2400 BC in ancient Babylonia. Still to this day, prostitution is one of the most aggressively punished crimes.

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What was the first job ever? ›

According to some research reports prostitution was considered as the oldest job in the history of mankind.

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What did a Carter do in England? ›

Carter is of Irish, Scottish and English origin and is an occupational name given to one who transports goods by cart or wagon ultimately of Celtic derivation.

View Details ›

What is a Carter? ›

Noun. carter (plural carters) A person who transports a load on a cart that is drawn by a beast of burden.

What was a medieval Carter? ›

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcart‧er /ˈkɑːtə $ ˈkɑːrtər/ noun [countable] someone whose job was to drive a cart in the pastExamples from the Corpuscarter• Sanson had to employ assistants and carters, a blacksmith, a cook and servants.

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What is a Carter on a farm? ›

David England (1866-1945).

He could probably turn his hand to most things, as workers on the land were expected to do. [A carter was a driver of a horse-drawn vehicles used for transporting goods, they usually drove a light two wheeled carriage]

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What is a carrier in old England? ›

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What is a Calenderer? ›

(kăl′ən-dər) n. A machine in which paper or cloth is made smooth and glossy by being pressed through rollers. tr.v. cal·en·dered, cal·en·der·ing, cal·en·ders.

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What is a bleacher occupation? ›

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Can Carter be a girl's name? ›

Is Carter a Boy or Girl Name? Carter is a gender-neutral name. Since it originates from a surname, any baby could receive the name in honor of their family history. Although Carter is currently more popular as a boy's name, it ranks in the 500th place for girls' names.

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What is the meaning of Hackman? ›

hackman in British English

(ˈhækˌmæn ) nounWord forms: plural -men. US. a taxi driver.

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Is Curter a word? ›

1. rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner. 2. brief; concise; terse.

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What was the most common job in medieval times? ›

The five most common jobs were farming, carpentry, butchery, shoemaking and Church-related work.

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What was a wagon builder called? ›

A wainwright or cartwright is a trades person skilled in the making and repairing of wagons and carts. The word wainwright is the combination of the archaic words "wain" (a large wagon for farm use) and "wright" (a worker or maker), originating from the Old English wægnwyrhta.

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What jobs were there in the 1500s? ›

Typical jobs during the Medieval Age included blacksmiths, stone masons, armorers, millers, carpenter, minstrel, weaver, winemaker, farmer, watchman, shoemaker and roofer.

What did a Waggoner do? ›

a person who drives a wagon.

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