ACCOUCHEUR / ACCOUCHEUS.... one who assisted women in childbirth
ACCIPITRARY..... a falconer or keeper and tamer of hawks
ADMINISTRATIX.....A female administrator
ALCHEMIST.....a medieval chemist who claimed to be able to turn base metals into gold
AMANUENSIS.....Secretary or stenographer
ANNATTO MAKER.....a person who worked in the manufacture of dyes for paint or printing
ARTIFICER.....Maker or fixer of intricate objects
ASHMAN.....Shipman or sailor
BONIFACE.....Innkeeper
BRAZIER.....Brass worker
BRIGHTSMITH.....Metal worker
BROWNSMITH.....Copper or brass smith
BURL.....Cup-bearer
BURNISHER.....Metal polisher
CARNER.....Granary keeper
CARTER.....Maker or driver carts
CHANDLE.....Maker or seller of candles; retailer of groceries
CHIFFONIER.....Wigmaker
CLARKE.....Cleric or scribe
COLPORTEUR.....Peddler of books
CONVEYOR.....Grantor or seller
COOPER.....Maker/repairer of barrels and casks
COPPICE KEEPER.....One who takes care of small wood
CORDWAINER.....Shoemaker
COUNCELLOR.....A Mayor of a town or village
CRAYMAN.....Driver of a cart carrying heavy loads
CULLER.....Gelder of male animals
CURRIER.....Tanner of leather; user of curry comb on horses
CUTLER.....One who makes or sells knives etc.
DAREMAN.....Dairyman
DIVINER/DOWSER.....One who finds water under the ground
DRAPER....Dealer in cloth and dry goods
DRESSER....Surgeon's assistant in a hospital
DROVER....Driver of animals to market; dealer in cattle
DRUMMER.....Traveling salesman
DUFFER.....Peddler
DYER.....One who dyes cloth
ENDHOLERNN.....Inn keeper
ENUMERATOR.....Census taker
EXECUTRIX.....A female executor
FALKNER.....Keeper/trainer of falcons
FARMER.....Tax-collector or bailiff
FARRIER.....Horse Doctor, one in charge of horses/Blacksmith who shoes horses
FENCE VIEWER.....Person who inspects farmer's fences
FLAX DRESSER.....One who works with flax fibers
FLETCHER.....Maker of bows and arrows
FRAMAR.....Farmer
FULLER.....Cleaner and thickener of cloth
GAOLER.....Jailer
GINERR.....Joiner
GLOVER.....Dealer or maker of gloves
GOBAR.....Jobber
GRECHER.....Grocer
GUILDERER.....Maker of gold or silver coins
HANSARD.....Weapon maker or seller
HAWKER.....Peddler
HEADBOROUGH.....Constable
HEDGER.....One who trims and tends hedgerows
HILLARD/HILLER.....One who covers houses with slate
HIND.....Farm laborer
HORSLER.....Ostler (Stableman or groom), Horse servant at an inn
HUCKSTER.....Seller of small articles
HUSBANDMAN.....A farmer
INDENTURED SERVANT.....One who has committed to working for someone for affixed number
of years, usually four to seven, in exchange for passage to America.
IRONMONGER.....Dealer in iron goods
JORMAN.....Journeyman
KELLER.....Salt keeper
KELLOGG.....Slaughter man
LARDNER.....Official in charge of pig food
LIMEBURNER.....Maker of lime
MACON/MARSON.....Mason
MALSTER.....Malster or brewer of malted beverages (Beer)
MARSHALL.....Horse servant, or groom
MAYER.....Physician
MILLOW.....Miller
MILLWRIGHT.....One who designs or builds mills
NETTIR.....Knitter
OSLER.....Bird-catcher
OSNARD.....Herder of oxen
OUTRIDER.....Mounted attendant riding before or behind a carriage
PACKMAN.....Itinerant peddler
PAROCHUS.....Rector, pastor
PEEVER.....Pepper-seller
PILCHER.....Maker of pilches
PLOUGHWRIGHT.....One who makes or repairs plows
PORCHER.....Pig-keeper
PORTER.....Gate-keeper or door-keeper
POULTERER.....Dealer in poultry
QUARRYMAN.....Stonecutter
REVENUER.....Federal officer enforcing the law against illegal manufacturing of whiskey
ROPER.....Maker of rope
ROWER.....Builder of (small)wagon wheels
SAVANT.....Servant
SAWYER.....Sawer of wood
SCRIVENER.....Scribe or clerk
SEVIER.....Sieve-maker
SEWER.....Tailor or shoemaker
SHARMAN......Shearman; cutter of woolen cloth
SIZER.....One who applies size to textiles
SLATTER.....Slater (Same as Hillard)
SLAYMAKER.....Maker of reeds or slays for looms
SOYOR.....Sawyer
STOKINER......Maker or weaver of stockings
SUTLER.....One who supplies an army with provisions
TANNER.....Tanner of animal skin
TAPER.....Candlewick maker or seller
TAWER.....One who taws (makes hide into leather without the use of tannin)
THIRDBOROROUGH.....Tithing man or deputy constable
TINKER.....An itinerant mender of Kettles and pans
TODD......Fox hunter
TRIPPER.....Dancer
VITNER.....Wine Merchant
WEBBER.....Weaver
WHEELWRIGHT.....Builder of wagon wheels
WHITCHER.....Maker of chests
WHITTAWER.....One who taws skin into white leather
This list was posted to a genealogy mailing list in an e-mail message dated 10/21/96 by Milton B. Clay of Lancaster, California. This information is used with his permission.
COLONIAL JOB NAMES
Strange occupation names....?
These are just a few of the titles used in the times of our Colonialists.
