Old Occupations
Accomptant Accountant

Almoner Giver of charity to the needy

Amanuens is Secretary or stenographer

Artificer A soldier mechanic who does repairs

Bailie Bailiff

Baxter Baker

Bluestocking Female writer

Boniface Keeper of an inn

Brazier One who works with brass

Brewster Beer manufacturer

Brightsmith Metal Worker

Burgonmaster Mayor

Caulker One who filled up cracks (in ships or
windows or seems to make them watertight by using tar or oakum-hem fiber produced by taking
old ropes apart

Chaisemaker Carriage maker

Chandler Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells
candles; retailer of groceries, ship supplier

Chiffonnier Wig maker

Clark Clerk

Clerk Clergyman, cleric

Clicker The servant of a salesman who stood at the
door toinvite 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 currycomb; 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

GaolerA 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

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.

PorterDoor 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

Slopseller Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop
shop

Snobscat / Snob One who repaired shoes

Sorter Tailor

Spinster A woman who spins or an unmarried woman

Spurrer Maker of spurs

Squire Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of
peace

Stuff gown Junior barrister

Stuff gownsman Junior barrister

Supercargo Officer on merchant ship who is in charge
of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship.

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

Vulcan Blacksmith

WagonerTeamster 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

compiled by Dan Burrows
"I put these 130 items together from many sources and used it as a handout for our local Orange County (NY) Genealogical Society. I was asked by many
recipients if the CHART could be forwarded to other lists or used in local newsletters. The answer is yes -- please share this information."
Dan Burrows - dburrows1@juno.com