RANKS, PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS AND TRADES
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ABLE SEAMANA seaman who reached a standard of skill above that of Ordinary Seaman.
ACADEMICA scholarly person, of a university, etc.
ACADEMICIANA member of an academy, especially of the Royal Academy of Arts.
ACATERA person who supplied food provisions, e.g. a ships chandler. Orig. Fr. achateur, meaning buyer.
ACCIPITRARYACCOMPTANTACCOUCHEURA person, not always a qualified physician, who assisted women in child birth.
ACCOUNTANTA person involved in maintenance and auditing of accounts and financial matters
ACCOUTREA supplier or maker of military clothing or equipment.
ACCOUTREMENT MAKERA supplier or maker of military clothing or equipment.
ACKERMANACREMANACTUARYAn expert in statistics, especially one who calculates insurance risks, a person who kept public accounts of business.
ADMINISTRATORAn appointee of the court who settles the estate of a deceased who died without leaving a will, or where an executor is unwilling or unable to serve as executor.
ADVENTURERA person who seeks adventures; a mercenary soldier; a commercial speculator; one who lives by his wits.
ADVERTISEMENT CONVEYANCERADVOCATEA Solicitor, a Lawyer, a person who acted as a prosecutor in a court of law in Scotland.
ADVOCATE DEPUTEA Scottish law officer who could act as public prosecutor.
ADVOWEEA person who possessed an Advowson, normally a nobleman, who had the right to present a clergyman to a benefice.
AERONAUTA balloonist or a trapeze artist in the circus or music halls.
AFFEERORAn official in the manorial courts who assessed the monetary penalty. They also collected taxes and dues and were also called Assessor.
AG LABsee ARGICULTURAL LABOURER.
AGENTA person who acted on behalf of a company or another person.
AGISTER An official of the Royal Forest. In the New Forest, it is the title for the person in charge of the ponies.
AGRICULTURAL LABOURER (Ag. Lab.)An unskilled worker on a farm.
AGRICULTURISTA person involved with land cultivation or animal husbandry.
ALABASTERERA person who worked with alabaster.
ALBLASTEREALCHEMISTA medieval chemist who claimed to be able to turn base metals into gold.
ALDERMANA senior councillor one position down from Mayor in the local council.
ALE CONNERALE DRAPERALE FOUNDERAn official who tested quality and measure of ale served in public houses
ALE TASTERA person who tested ale and beer for quality first recorded in 1377 in London. Appointed by the Manor and forerunner of the Inspector for Weights & Measures
ALE TUNNERA worker employed by the brewery to fill ale casks (tuns} with ale.
ALEWIFEA woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern.
ALL SPICEALMANAC MANAn official appointed by the Court of Sewers who warned the inhabitants of the Trent River area of higher than normal tides
ALMONER[1] Distributor of charity to the needy.
[2] The person in charge of an Almshouse.
[3] The title of hospital managers until the 1970's.
ALMSMANA person who received alms or charity.
ALNAGERAn official who examined the quality of woollen goods and stamped them with the town seal of approval.
AMANUENSISA person who writes what another dictates (words or music) or copies manucripts; a secretary or stenographer.
AMBER & JET CUTTERA person who cut and polished amber and jet for jewellery.
AMBER CUTTERA person who cut ambergris.
AMBLERAn officer of the Royal Stable who broke in horses.
AMEN MANANCHOR SMITHA person who made anchors.
ANCHORESSA female hermit or religious recluse.
ANCHORITEA male hermit or religious recluse.
ANGLE IRON SMITHA person who made angle iron i.e. flat iron bars bent at right angles lengthways.
ANILEPMANA smallholder (tenant of the manor).
ANIMAL & BIRD PRESERVERANKLE BEATERA young person who helped to drive the cattle to market.
ANNATTO MAKERA person who worked in the manufacture of dyes for paint or printing.
ANNUITANTA person who received an annual income not from working e.g. pensioner.
ANTIGROPELOS MAKERA person who made waterproof leggings.
ANVIL SMITHA person who made anvils and hammers for blacksmiths.
APIARIANAPOTHEECARYA chemist, druggist, pharmacist.
APPARITORAn official who summoned witnesses in the ecclesiastical courts.
APPRAISERA person who appraised the value of goods i.e. a broker.
APPRENTICEA person who was bound to a skilled worker for a specified time to learn a trade.
APRONEERA slang term used in London for a shopkeeper.
APRONMANAQUARIUS (EWAR)AQUAVITA SELLERA person who sold alcohol.
ARBITERA person who judged disputes.
ARCHERA person skilled in using a bow and arrow.
ARCHIATORARCHIL MAKERA person who made a violet dye from lichens, used in the textile industry.
ARCHIVISTA person who kept records of historical value.
ARKWRIGHTA skilled craftsman who produced "arks" (wooden chests or coffers).
ARMIGERSomeone entitled to bear heraldic arms. A squire who carried the armour of a knight.
ARMOURERA person who made suits of armour or plates of armour for buildings or ships etc.
ARTIFICER[1] A contriver (q.v.)
[2] An army or navy mechanic who does repairs to military equipment.
ARTISANARTIST IN FIREWORKSA person who prepared fireworks displays.
ASHMANASSAY MASTERThe person who determined the amount of gold or silver to go in coins.
ASSAYERA person who determined the proportions of metal in ore.
AUGER MAKERA person who made the carpenters augers (used for boring holes in wood).
AULNAGERAURIFABERAVENATOR (PLANTIFENE)A hay and forage merchant.
AVOWRYAnother term for the lord of the manor.
AXLE TREE MAKER or TURNERA person who made axles for coaches and wagons.
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BACK WASHERA person employed to clean the wool in the worsted manufacturing industry.
BACK'US BOYA kitchen servant, (from "back of the house").
BACKMAKERA person who made "backs", vats, tubs, a Cooper.
BACKSTERBADGER[1] A 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).
[2] A corn miller or dealer.
[3] An itinerant food trader.
BADGY FIDDLERA boy trumpeter in the military.
BAGMANBAGNIOKEEPERA person in charge of a bath house or brothel.
BAILIEBAILIFFAn officer of the sheriff, a land steward acting on behalf of the Landowner or Landlord. In Scotland a magistrate of the burgh, also looked after the fishing rights on certain rivers.
BAILLEEBAILLIEBAIRMANBAL MAIDENA female mine worker who worked on the surface (aka Pit Brow Lass).
BALANCERA person employed in the coal mines to operate the "balance" which is a slope with a pulley at the top where empty coal tubs pulled full tubs up the slope.
BALERA person who bales of hay. In the mills it was a person who bailed wool or cotton goods.
BALISTERAn archer most commonly a crossbow-man.
BALLAD MONGERA person who sold printed ballads on the street.
BALLARD MASTERThe person in charge of loading the ballast into the hold of empty ships.
BALLAST HEAVERA person who loaded ballast into the hold of empty ships.
BALLERA person who assisted the potter by measuring out the balls of clay.
BALLER UPBAND FILERA metal worker in the gun making industry.
BANDSTERA person 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.
BANKSMANA person employed in the mining industry being in charge of the cages at the pit head. Sometimes known as a BANK MANAGER or BROWMAN.
BARBERA man who cuts men's hair and shaves beards, a men's hairdresser. See also BARBER SURGEON.
BARBER SURGEONA Barber prior to the 18c also a Surgeon. In the 18th century, an Act was passed that limited Barbers to hair-cutting, shaving, dentistry and blood letting
BARDBAREMANBAREMANBARGE MATEBARGEEBARGEMANA person who worked on or owned and operated a barge.
BARILLA MANUFACTURERA person who made 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 toll-keeper.
BARKERBARKMANA person who tanned leather using the bark of trees, later the term was also used for a person employed to attract attention at fairgrounds by shouting details of the attraction.
BARLEYMAN BARM BREWERBARMASTERThe arbiter of disputes in the lead mining industry. They were also in charge of the standard measure for the ore.
BARREL FILERA person employed in the gun manufacturing industry.
BARROWMANA person employed in the coal mines to push the barrow from the pit face to the shaft.
BARTONERThe person in charge of the monastic farm, also known as a barton.
BASIL WORKERA person who worked with sheep and goat skins.
BASKETMANA person who made baskets, and furniture from wicker, also a person employed to empty the basket of coal being offloaded from the colliers into the barges.
BASS or BAST DRESSERA person employed in dressing fibre or matting.
BATHING MACHINE PROPRIETORA person who owned and hired the changing huts used at the seaside in the 18c by bathers.
BATMANAn officers servant in the army.
BATT MAKERA person who made the wadding used in quilt and mattress making.
BATTLEDORE MAKERA person who made the beaters used on clothes, carpets, etc., to remove the dust. Later they made the paddles used in washing machines.
BAVEN MAKERA maker of kindling. A bavin (or baven) is a thin piece of wood or split, with the end wittled and curled with a knife and used for kindling.
BAXTERBAYWEAVERA person who wove bay (a fine woollen fabric also known as baize).
BEAD PIERCERA person employed to drill the holes in beads.
BEADLEAn officer of the parish whose principle duty was to keep order, also was the town crier.
BEADMANBEADSMANBEAMERA person employed in the textile trade to wind the warp on the roller before putting it on the loom.
BEARERA person who worked underground carrying the coal to the bottom of the pit shaft and placed it in the containers for uplifting to the surface.
BEATERA person who cleansed and thickened the cloth by treading it underwater with fullers earth, aka Fuller.
BEAVERA person who made felt used in hat making.
BEDEL(L)BEDESMAN[1] A person employed to pray for his employer.
[2] The inhabitant of an almshouse / poorhouse / hospital.
[3] A tenant employed by the manor for a specific service.
BEDMANBEDRALIn Scotland, a minor church official.
BEDWEVEREA person who made the webbing for bed frames, also a person who wove quilts.
BEEKEEPER A person who kept bees for their honey.
BEEMASTERBEESKEP MAKERA person who made beehives.
BEETLERA person who operated a beetling machine, used in the textile trade for embossing fabric.
BELHOSTEBELL HANGERA person who installed bells in churches.
BELLEYETEREBELLFOUNDERBELLMAN[1] A person employed as a watchman or town crier.
[2] A person who worked for the post office and collected letters for the mail coach by walking the streets and ringing a bell.
BELLOWFARMERA person who was responsible for the care and maintenance of the church organ.
BELLOWS MAKERA person who made bellows used for organs or blacksmiths fires.
BELLY BUILDERA person who built and fitted the interiors of pianos.
BELTERBENDERA person who cut leather.
BESOM MAKERA person who made brooms made of a bundle of birch twigs bound onto a handle which was a thicker and roughly straight branch of the same wood.
BESOMERA person who sweeps with a besom, also possibly used to describe a BESOM MAKER.
BESSWARDENA person appointed by the parish to look after its animals.
BIDDYA female servant usually of Irish stock.
BILL POSTERA person who put up notices, signs and advertisements.
BILLIARD-MARKERA person who attends on players at billiards and records the progress of the game.
BILLIERBILLITERBILLYMANA person who operated a Billy Roller, a machine used in the cotton industry to prepare the cotton for spinning.
BINDERA person who bound items e.g. books, hats etc.
BIRD BOYA person employed to scare away birds from crops.
BIRD CATCHERA person who caught birds for selling.
BIRDS NEST SELLERA person who sold birds nest collected from the wild complete with eggs, these were then hatched by domestic birds and sold as pets.
BIRLYMANIn Scotland a ground officer or parish arbiter.
BLACK BORDERERA person who made black edged stationery for funerals.
BLACK TRAY MAKERA person who made Japanned trays.
BLACKING MAKERA person who made polish for shoes.
BLADESMITHA swordmaker or knife maker.
BLAXTERBLEACHERA person who bleached cloth or paper pulp.
BLEMMEREBLENTONISTBLINDSMANA person employed by the Post Office to deal with incorrectly addressed letters and parcels.
BLOCK MAKERA person who engraved the blocks used in the printing trade.
BLOCK PRINTERA printer who used wooden blocks for printing.
BLOCKCUTTERBLOCKER[1] A person who made wooden blocks used in the hat trade.
[2] A person who laid down the blocks on which a ships keel was laid.
BLOODLETTERA person who used leeches for letting blood. This was thought to be a cure for many ailments.
BLOODMANBLOOMERA person who produced iron from ore, a bloom smithy.
BLOWER[1] A glass blower.
[2] A person who operated a "blowing machine" used to clean and separate fibres in the textile trade.
[3] A person who operated the bellows at a blacksmiths.
BLOWFEEDERA person who fed the fibres into a "blowing machine".
BLUE DYER or MAKERA person who worked with blue dye used by calico printers and laundries to stop the white materials from discolouring.
BLUESTOCKINGA nickname for a female writer. The Blue Stocking Society met in about the 1750s to talk about literature, etc, some of the men wearing ordinary blue stockings. It now means a woman who has or affects literary tastes and learning, though it is hardly used.
BLUFFERAn innkeeper or landlord of a tavern or public house.
BOARDERA person who was provided with accommodation and meals. See LODGER
BOARDING OFFICERA person who inspected ships before entering port.
BOARD LINER[1]A worker who covers cardboard with plain or ornamental paper by hand, using paste and brush, (ii) passes cardboard into a pasting machine.
BOARDMAN[1] A truant officer who checked school attendance.
[2] A tenant of manorial land who paid rent by maintaining the manor's table.
BOARDWRIGHTA person who made tables and chairs aka carpenter.
BOATMANA person who worked on a boat, predominately on rivers and canals. Also the name given to a boat repairer.
BOATSWAINA ship's officer. In Anglo-Saxon times Boatswains actually commanded ships. By 17c the Boatswain had sunk in social and professional standing. He was especially responsible for riggings and ground tackle, and kept the ship's stores of cordage, sails & associated gear.
BOBBER[1] A person who polished metals.
[2] A person who helped to unload fishing boats.
BOBBIN CARRIERA person who worked in spinning and weaving sections of the mills.
BOBBIN TURNERA person who made the bobbins used in the spinning and weaving industry.
BOBBYA nickname for a policeman, usually of constable rank.
BODEYS MAKERA person who made bodices for women’s garments.
BODGERA craftsman who made wooden chair legs and the spars. They usually worked in the actual woodland that they cut the timber in.
BODY MAKERBOILER MAKERA person who worked with metal in any industrial setting.
BOILER PLATERA person who made rolled iron plate used to make boilers for steam engines etc.
BOILERMAKERA craftsman who worked with metal in any industrial setting.
BOLLA person who looked after power looms in the weaving industry.
BOLTERA person who sifted meal.
BONDAGERA female worker on a farm who was bonded.
BONDMANA person bonded to a master for the purpose of learning a skill or trade.
BONDSMANA person who stood bond or surety for another where a bond was required by law.
BONE BUTTON TURNERA person who made buttons using a lathe.
BONE LACE MAKERA person who made pillow lace.
BONE MOULD TURNERA person who made the moulds for button manufacturers.
BONE PICKERA person who collected rags and bones aka Rag and Bone Man.
BONESETTERA person who set broken bones.
BONIFACEBOOK GILDERA person who decorated books with gold leaf.
BOOK KEEPERA person who looked after the accounts for businesses.
BOOKHOLDERThe prompter in the theatre.
BOOKMANBOONMASTERA surveyor of roads with the responsibilities of maintaining and repairing the road.
BOOT CLOSERA person who worked in the shoe trade stitching together all the parts of a shoe upper.
BOOTBINDERA person employed to operate the machines which bound footwear.
BOOTHMANBORLERA person who made cheap coarse clothing
BORSHOLDERA regional name (Kent) for a constable.
BOTCHERBOTTILERBOTTLE BOYBOTTLERA person who made leather containers for holding liquids e.g. wine flasks or water bottles.
BOTTOM KNOCKERA sagger makers assistant in the pottery industry.
BOTTOM MAKERA person who moulded the bottoms for saggers in the pottery industry.
BOTTOMERA person who worked down the pits moving the ore etc to the bottom of the shaft for removal.
BOWDLERA person who worked with iron ore.
BOWERBOWKERA person who bleached yarn. A local term in some parts of Lancashire for a butcher.
BOWLERA person who made bowls and dishes. Also a term used for people who made the rounded part of spoons before casting.
BOWLMAN / BOWLWOMANBOWLMINDERA person in charge of the vats used for washing raw wool before processing.
BOWYER A person who made bows used in archery.
BOZZLERBRABENERBRACHYGRAPHERBRAIDERA person who made cord by twisting threads or strips of leather.
BRAILLERA person who made girdles.
BRAKEMAN or BRAKESMAN[1] A person who operated the winch at the pit head.
[2] A person who operated the braking mechanism on trains and trams.
BRASIATORBRASILERBRASS CUTTERA person who made copperplate engravings.
BRASS FINISHERA person who polished brass goods.
BRASS FOUNDERBRATMANBRAYERA person who ground things up in a mortar.
BRAZIERA person who made or repaired household items made from brass.
BREACH MAKERA person who made the breach for guns.
BREAKMANBREWSTERA female brewer. Later, the term became non gender specific.
BRICKBURNERA brickmaker who used a kiln to make bricks.
BRICKMANBRIDEWELL KEEPERThe person in charge of a lock-up or jail.
BRIDGEMANA toll keeper at bridges.
BRIDGERA toll keeper at bridges.
BRIGHTSMITHA person who worked with tin.
BROAD CLOTH WEAVERA person who operated a wide loom.
BROAD COOPERA person employed as a go between for the brewery and the innkeepers.
BRODERERBROGGERBROIDERERBROOM DASHERBROOM SQUIREA person who made brooms from birch.
BROTHERERBROUGE MAKERBROW GIRLA female employed at the pit head.
BROWDERERBROWNSMITHA person who works with copper or brass.
BUCK WASHERBUCKLE TONGUE MAKERA person who made the metal points that go in the holes of a belt.
BUCKLERBUCKLESMITHA person who made buckles.
BUCKRAM MAKERA person who worked with buckram (used in stiffening materials) e.g. belts, lapels and collars.
BUDDLEBOYA person employed to use and maintain the vats used in the lead and tin mines for washing the ore.
BUFFALO SOLDIERA soldier serving in a black regiment in the US Army in the West.
BULLWHACKERBUMBOAT MANA person who met ships at anchor, with goods for passengers and crew to purchase.
BUMMAREEA person who acted as middle man between the wholesaler and the retailer at the fish markets. They would purchase the fish for reselling to the retailer.
BUMMERBUNTERA person who collected rags and bones.
BURELERA person who made borel, a woollen cloth with a coarse feel.
BURGESSA person who represented a borough at official levels.
BURGOMASTERA Mayor of Dutch or Flemish town.
BURLERA quality inspector for clothing.
BURLER MENDERA skilled finisher of woven fabrics.
BURLEYMANBURMAIDENA chambermaid or lady-in-waiting.
BURNEMANA carrier of barm or water for brewers.
BURYE MANBUSHEL MAKERBUSHELERBUSKERBUSS MAKERBUTNERA person who made buttons.
BUTTER CARVERA person who made imprints in butter pats.
BUTTON BURNISHERA person who polished buttons.
BUTTYThe person who negotiated mining contracts and supplied the labour.
BYLAWMANAn official of the manorial courts who enforced the courts orders.
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CAB DRIVERCABBIECABMANThe driver of a small horse drawn passenger vehicle.
CADA person employed to feed and water horses at coach stops.
CADDIEA boy who carried messages or who ran errands.
CADDY BUTCHERA butcher that dealt in horse meat.
CADGERCAFENDERCAFFLERA rag and bone collector.
CAINERA person who made walking sticks.
CAIRDAnother term for a tinker.
CALCINERA person who burnt bones to make powdered lime.
CALENDERA person who listed documents.
CALENDER WORKERCALENDERERA person who operated a machine which pressed using two large rollers (calender) used to press and finish fabrics or paper.
CALENDERMANCALICO PRINTERA person who dyed and coloured calico.
CAMBISTAn expert in financial exchange, a dealer in bills of exchange.
CAMBRIC MAKERA person who made a fine linen or cotton fabric called cambric.
CAMERISTCAMISTERCAMLET MERCHANTA seller of camlet, cloth used to make cloaks & petticoats.
CANCELLARIUSCANDLE MAKERA person who made and sold candles.
CANDLERCANDY MAN[1] A slang name for a bailiff.
[2] A travelling candy salesman.
CANERA person who made the seats for chairs out of woven cane.
CANNALLERCANTER[1] A beggar or vagrant.
[2] A religious speaker who uses cant.
CANTING CALLERCANVASERA person who made canvas.
CAP MAKERCAPERCAPILLAIRE MAKERA person who made orange flavoured syrup.
CAPITALISTAn investor who provided private capital or wealth for the production and distribution of goods.
CAPPERA person who made caps usually worn by the working class.
CAPTAINA person in charge of a ship or a group of soldiers. Also a term for an overseer.
CARD NAILERA person who maintained the teeth (nails) on the carding machine used for preparing wool and cotton for weaving.
CARDERA person who operated a carding machine used to prepare wool and cotton for weaving by removing the knots and tangles.
CARDMAKER[1] A person who made the handheld implement used for carding wool and cotton.
[2] A maker of game playing cards.
CARDROOMERA term for any person who worked in the carding room of the mills.
CARETAKERA person hired to take charge, especially of house or ship in owners absence, or a person looking after public buildings.
CARMANCARNIFEXCARPENTARIUSCARRIERA person who drove a vehicle used to transport goods.
CART WHEELERA person who made cart wheels.
CARTERCARTERCARTOGRAPHERCARTOMANCERA fortune teller who used cards.
CARTWRIGHTA person who made wagons and carts.
CASHMARIEA person who sold fish usually at inland markets.
CASTER or CASTORA person who made small bottles used for sprinkling salt, pepper, sugar etc.
CASTRATORA person who castrated farm animals aka gelder.
CATAGMANCATCHPOLE or CATCHPOLLA bailiff or sheriffs officer.
CATECHISTCATTLE JOBBERA person who bought and sold cattle.
CAULKERA person who made boats or casks watertight by caulking the seams using tar or oakum-hemp fibre.
CAUSEWAYERA person who was involved in road repairs from the term causewaying (Scottish c1800).
CEAPMANCEILERA person who put up the ceilings in buildings.
CELLARMANA person who look after the beer, wines and spirits in public houses or the warehouse.
CEMMERA person who hand combed the yarn before weaving.
CHAFF CUTTERA person employed to make chaff by cutting straw.
CHAFFERERCHAIR BODGERA travelling chair repairman.
CHAIR BOTTOMERCHAISE DRIVERThe driver of a two wheeled light open carriage generally furnished with a hood that may be let down and capable of carrying one or two persons, used for pleasure or local travelling puposes.
CHAISE MAKERA person who made light carriages or chairs from wicker.
CHALONER[1] A person who made blankets.
[2] A dealer in shalloon, a material made in Chalons.
CHAMBER MASTERA shoemaker that worked from home as an outworker or selling direct.
CHAMBERLAINAn officer of the royal household. He is responsible for the Chamber, meaning that he controls access to the person of the King. He is also responsible for administration of the household and the privates estates of the king. The Chamberlain is one of the four main officers of the court, the others being the Chancellor, the Justi-ciar, and the Treasurer.
CHAMBERMAIDA female servant who looked after the bedrooms of large houses or hotels.
CHANDLER[1] A Candlemaker or candle seller.
[2] A grocer or provisioner.
[3] Usually associated with provisioning ships but also applied to any dealer of a specific trade.
CHANTY MANThe sailor that led the singing of shanties on board ship.
CHAPELERA person who made and sold hats.
CHAPMAN[1] A dealer or pedlar of goods usually itinerant going from village to village.
[2] A keeper of a booth or stall in a market
CHARCOAL BURNERA person who made charcoal usually in the woods where the trees were cut.
CHARMANCHARTMASTERA middleman that negotiated mining contracts and supplied the labour.
CHARWOMANCHASERCHATELAINEThe mistress of a castle or house.
CHAUNTERA street entertainer who sung ballads.
CHEESE FACTORCHEESE MONGERCHEESEMANCHIFFONIERCHILDBED LINEN WAREHOUSE KEEPER or DEALERA person who hired bedlinen for use at child-birth as most children before the 20th century were born at home.
CHIMNEY SWEEPCHINGLORA rooftiler who used wooden shingles.
CHIPA shipwright or carpenter.
CHIPPERS LABOURERAn assistant to a shipwright or ships carpenter.
CHIROPODISTA person who treats diseases of the feet & hands.
CHIRUGION or CHIRURGEONAn apothecary or surgeon.
CHOWDERCHRONOLOGISTA person who recorded official events of historical importance.
CINDER WENCHA female who collected the cinders from gas works and sold them door to door.
CLAKERA magician or astrologer.
CLAPMANA man who took a person to prison.
CLARKCLASSMANCLAVIGERCLAY CARRIERAn assistant to the shot firer in the pits.
CLAYMANA person who worked in the clay pits usually preparing the clay for making bricks. Also a person who coated the outside of buildings with clay to make them water proof.
CLERK IN HOLY ORDERSA Clergyman, cleric or priest.
CLERICUSA medieval term for a clerk.
CLEYMANCLICKER[1] A person who worked in the shoe trade cutting out the uppers also the person who made the shoelace holes.
[2] In the printing trade a person in charge of the final stage of layout before printing.
[3] The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers.
CLIPPER / CLIPPER ON / CLIPPER OFFIn the mines a person who attached the coal carts to the wire or rope which was used to drag the carts to and from the coal face.
CLOD HOPPERCLOGGERA clog maker (wooden shoes).
CLOTH LAPPERA person who took the cloth from the carding machine and made it ready for the next process.
CLOTH LINTER or PICKERA person who removed unwanted threads and lint from the finished material.
CLOTHESMANCLOTHIERA person who made or sold clothes.
CLOTHMANCLOUTERA person who made nails. Also another term for a shoemaker.
CLOWERCOACHMAN / COACH DRIVERA person who drove any horse-drawn coach.
COAL BACKERA person employed to carry the sacks of coal from the coal barge to the coal wagons.
COAL BURNERA person who made charcoal.
COAL DRAWERA person who worked in the mines pushing or dragging the coal carts the bottom of the pit.
COAL HEAVERA person employed to move coal e.g. from boat to shore or from shore to boat.
COAL HIGGLERCOAL MERCHANTCOAL RUNNERA person who attended the coal carts underground.
COAL WHIPPERA person employed to unload coal from ships using baskets attached to a simple form of crane.
COALMANA person who sold coal usually from a horse and cart, house to house.
COALMETERA person who measured the coal.
COAST SURVEYOR or WAITERA customs officer who watched over the off-loading of goods on the coast.
COBBLERA person who mended shoes and boots.
COBLEMANA person who used a flat bottomed boat for fishing.
COCKFEEDERA person who looked after fighting cocks.
COCUSCOD PLACERA person who put the fire proof containers which held the pottery for firing into the kiln.
COHENCOINERA person who worked at the Mint stamping out coins.
COLLAR MAKERA person who made horse collars. In the clothing trade a person who made shirt collars.
COLLIERA coal miner, a coal merchant or a person who worked on the coal barges. Also a person who worked at the pit face and actually got the coal.
COLONUSLatin for farmer or husbandman.
COLOUR MAN[1]A person who mixed the dyes in the textile trade. [2]
A shopkeeper who deals in paints etc.
COLOURATOR or COLORATORA person who worked with dyes.
COLPORTEURA pedlar who sold books, particularly religious books.
COLTA name given to all those who have not served a regular apprenticeship. Especially used to describe women and child workers in the frame-work knitting trade in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire during the Luddite disturbances 1811-12.
COMB MAKERA person who made combs either for the textile industry for combing wool etc. or the maker of hair combs.
COMBERA person who operated a combing machine in the mills.
COMBER or COMBERECOMPOSITORA person who set the type ready for printing.
CONDERA person on shore who gave directions to inshore fisherman as to the movements of the shoals of fish (usually from the top of cliffs or rocks).
CONEY CATCHERCONFECTIONERCONNERCONNERCONTRIVER[1] An inventor.
[2] A schemer or plotter.
COOPERA person who made or repaired wooden barrels and casks.
COOPER or CUPERCOPEMAN[1] A dealer in goods,
[2] A dishonest dealer in horses. See CHAPMAN.
COPERCOPPERBEATER or COPPERBETERCOPPERSMITHA person who worked with copper.
CORACLE MAKERA person who made coracles, small round boats used for inland water fishing.
CORDINEROriginally a term used for a person who worked with Cordovan, a special soft leather from Spain. Later it became the term used for a shoemaker.
CORDWAINERCORK CUTTERA person who worked with cork.
CORN CHANDLERCORN CUTTERCORN FACTORA middleman in corn deals.
CORN METERAn official who measured and weighed the corn at market.
CORNETThe fifth commissioned officer in a troop of cavalry, who carried the colours; corresponding to the ensign in infantry. The lowest commissioned rank in a cavalry regiment, equivalent to the present 2nd Lieutenant.
CORVERA person who made baskets used in coal mining known as corves.
CORVEYSERACORVINERCORVISER or CORVISORCOSTER WIFECOSTERMONGERA person who sold fruit and vegetables in the street or market.
COTELER or COTYLERA person who made and repaired knives.
COTILERCOTTAGERAn agricultural labourer who lived in a cottage on the landowners farm.
COTTARCOTTERCOTTIERCOTTON FEEDERA person employed in the cotton mills to feed the cotton into the loom.
COUCHERA person employed in the paper making trade.
COUNTOURA person who collected rates.
COUPERA dealer, usually in cattle and horses.
COUPLE BEGGARAn itinerant priest who performed marriages without licence or banns.
COUPLERA person employed in the coal mines coupling the coal tubs together.
COURANTEERCOURT FACTORA person who bought and sold courts (small carts).
COURT ROLLERA person in charge of the court rolls and records.
COURT TOOLMAKERA manufacturer of tools used to produce carts known as courts.
COURTIERThe owner and driver of a horse and cart known as a court.
COW LEECHCOWHERDA person who looked after cows.
COWKEEPERA person who kept cows usually for their milk which was sold door to door.
COWMANCOXWAIN[1] A member of the crew that gave the steering instructions to the helmsman,
[2] A helmsman, especially of a rowing boat.
CRIER[1] A law court officer,
[2] An auctioneer,
[3] A town announcer.
CRIMPERA member of navy press gang
CROFTERA tenant of a small piece of land.
CROPPER[1] A tenant who is paid with a share of the crop.
[2] A skilled worker in the Yorkshire weaving trade who sheared the nap from cloth, often working in Gig Mills. See also SHEARMAN.
CROWNERCUHREUR (CUNREUR)CURERA person who cures tobacco.
CURRETTERCURRIERA person who cures or tans hides.
CUSTOMERCUTLERA knife seller or sharpener.
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DAGUERREOTYPE ARTISTAn early name for a photographer (from the Daguerreotype method).
DAIRYMANA worker or owner of a dairy farm or seller of dairy products.
DAMSTERA builder of dams for logging purposes.
DANTERA female overseer in the winding rooms of a silk mill.
DATALLERDATELERDAY LABORERA person who was hired and paid on a day-by-day basis.
DAY MAN A casual worker, usually employed by the day, the term was used in many different industries and trades.
DAYTALEMANDEATHSMANDECIMERA person elected by the householders in a street to act as their representative at the borough's Court Leet.
DECOYMANA person employed to decoy the wild fowl, animals, etc, into a trap or within shooting range.
DECRETISTA person knowledgeable in decrees, decretals.
DEEMERDEEMSTERA judge, usually in the Channel Isles or Isle of Man.
DELVERA person who dug ditches.
DEMPSTER DEMSTERDEPARTERA refiner of precious metals.
DEPUTYIn the mining industry the Deputy was the safety officer for the pit crew.
DERRICKMANA person who worked on an oil well handling the tubes and rods used in drilling
DEVILDEVILLERA person who operated the devil, a machine that tore rags used in the textile industry.
DEXTERDEY WIFEDIGGER[1] A person who worked at the coal face.
[2] A day labourer in a stone or slate quarry.
DIKEMANDIPPERA person who worked in the pottery trade and was responsible for the glazing of items.
DISH THROWERA person who made bowls and dishes from clay.
DISH TURNER A person who made wooden bowls or dishes.
DISHERDISTILLERA person who distilled spirits, aka Rectifier.
DISTRIBUTORA parish official attached to the workhouse or poorhouse who looked after the secular needs of the poor.
DIVINERDOCK MASTERA person in charge of a dockyard.
DOCK WALLOPERA dock worker, longshoreman.
DOCKERA person employed in a dockyard to load and unload cargo between ship and quayside, aka stevedore, longshoreman.
DOG BREAKERA person who trained dogs.
DOG KILLERA person employed by the parish to kill any dogs found wandering around loose.
DOG LEECHDOG WHIPPERWhen foxes were hunted for bounty the tail of the fox was nailed to the church door as proof of capture. The Dog Whipper was employed to deal with the dogs which disrupted the church service, attracted by the tails.
DOMESMANDOMESTICDONKEY BOY or MANThe driver of a carriage for passengers.
DOOR KEEPERA guard, janitor, or porter.
DORCASDOUBLERA person who operated a machine used to twist together strands of fibre (cotton, wool etc).
DOWSERA person who claimed to be able to find water using a forked stick of hazel held close to the body in both hands and passed over the ground.
DOZENERDRAGMANA fisherman who fished by dragging a net along the bottom of the water.
DRAGOMANA person who acted as interpreter or guide in Turkish or Arabic.
DRAGOONDRAGSMANA driver of a small stage coach or carriage used for public transport or private hire.
DRAINERA person who made drains.
DRAPERA dealer in fabrics, chiefly woollen and linen cloth, and sewing needs. Larger dealers also sold ready-made clothes.
DRAPERY PAINTERA person whose painting skills were not of the highest level, they usually finished paintings for the artists by painting on the clothes of the subject, hence Drapery Painter.
DRAWBOYA weavers assistant in the shawl making mills. They sat atop the looms and lifted the heavy warps.
DRAWER[1] A person in the metal industry who made wire by drawing the metal through a die.
[2] In the mining industry it was a person who raised the coal up the shaft to the surface.
DRAYMANA person who drove a dray (a heavy four wheeled cart used to transport beer kegs).
DREDGERMAN[1] A London occupation. A person who went on the River Thames in a boat to collect the bits and pieces that had fallen overboard from other vessels which they would then sell. [2] Oyster Fishermen.
DRESSER[1] A person who prepared things, e.g. clothing for a noble person, food, etc..
[2] A person who assisted in medical operations by dressing the wounds.
[3] A person who operated a machine that prepared threads in the textile industry.
DRESSING MACHINE MAKERA person who made sewing machines.
DRESSMAKERA person who made clothing.
DRIFT MAKERA person who made drift nets, used in the fishing industry.
DRIPPING MANA dealer in dripping (the fat collected during the cooking of meats).
DRIVERDROVERA person who drove animal stock to market.
DRUGGERDRUM BATTLEDORE MAKERA person who made galvanised metal drums fitted with paddles used as mechanical agitators in washing machines (battledore is the name of the bat shaped paddles).
DRUMMERDRY SALTERA dealer in pickles, dried meats, and sauces.
DRY STANE DYKERA Scottish term for a Dry Stone Waller.
DRY STONE WALLERA person who built stone walls usually using the stones removed from the fields as building materials. The art was in not using any cement or mortar and generally not cutting the stone, but being able to see where various stones would fit together.
DRYSALTERA dealer in salted meats. A dealer in dyes and colours used in the dying trade.
DRYSALTERA person who made or dealt in salt.
DUBBEREA cloth dubber, i.e., one who raises the nap of cloth.
DUFFERA Pedlar (of cheap goods).
DUSTBIN MANDUSTMANA person who collected domestic refuse, aka janitor or garbage collector.
DYERA person employed in the textile mills to colour fabric prior to weaving.
DYKEMANDYKERA Scottish term for a stonemason.
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EALDORMANAn official of the shire courts who acted as the King's deputy taking payment from the profits of the court.
EAREREARTH STOPPERA person employed to close up the entrances of a fox's earth before the hunt began.
EAST INDIA MANA person employed by the East India Company, on a commercial or military basis.
EBONITE TURNERA person who worked with ebonite or vulcanite, making combs or ornaments etc.
EDGE TOOL MAKERBlacksmith who made knives and agricultural implements such as scythes.
EGG DEALER or FACTOR An egg or poultry dealer.
EGGLERAn egg or poultry dealer.
ELEPHANTS TEETH DEALERA person who dealt in ivory ornaments etc.
ELLERMANA person who sold oil used for lamps. Also known as an oilman.
ELLIMANA person who sold oil used for lamps. Also known as an oilman.
ELYMAKEREMBOSSERA person who moulded or carved designs that were raised above the surface of the material.
EMPRESARIOA land broker, settlement scheme promoter, showman.
ENGINE TENTERA person who operated the machine which stretched the cloth whilst drying in a woollen mill.
ENGINE TURNERA craftsman or engraver who produced overlaping geometric pattens similar to those produced by 'Spirograph' toys. Engine turning was commonly seen on ladies powder compacts, and has often been used under transparent enamels.
ENGINEERA person who designed roads, bridges, or machinery. Also a person who drove or serviced any machinery e.g. engine drivers.
ENGINEMANA person employed at a mine to be in charge of the engine house which operated the winding engine and was usually instructed by the BANKMAN.
ENGRAVER A person who cuts or carves designs or lettering in metal or stone etc.
ENSIGNA commissioned officer in the navy.
ENUMERATORA person who collected the information for the census from the householder and recorded it.
EQUERRYAn officer of the Royal household usually responsible for the royal horses.
EREMITEERITEESQUIREThe person who attended a knight, a shield-bearer. Later it became a title for a gentleman of standing in society, by birth, position, or education.
ESTAFETTEETCHERA person who cuts or carves designs or lettering in metal or stone etc. A person who made the plates for printing patterns on cloth or printing paper money.
EWE HERDEXCHEQUEREXCISEMANEYERA person who made eyes in needles used for sewing. Sometimes called a Holer.
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FABERFABRICATORFACTOR[1] An agent employed by merchants to transact business of buying and selling.
[2] A Scottish term for the steward of an estate responsible for collection of land rents.
[3] A person selling goods on commission.
FAGETTERA person who made up faggots into bundles, seller of firewood.
FAKERPhotographic assistant who added colour to photographs by hand before colour film was available.
FANCY MANFANCY WOMANFANCY-PEARL WORKERA worker using mother-of-pearl making buttons or fancy goods.
FANNERFANWRIGHTA maker and repairer of fans or winnowing baskets.
FARANDMANA stranger or traveller, especially a travelling merchant.
FARRIER[1] Shoeing smith,
[2] Horse doctor,
[3] Non-commissioned officer responsible for the shoeing of horses and a cavalry regiment.
FAWKNERFEAR-NOTHING MAKERA weaver of special kind of thick woollen cloth known as fear-nought, used for protective clothing and lining portholes, walls, and doors of powder magazines on board ships.
FEATHER-BEATERA cleanser of feathers. Also feather driver.
FEATHER-DRESSERA person who cleaned and prepared feathers for sale.
FEATHER-WIFEWoman who prepared feathers for use.
FEATHERMANA dealer in feathers and plumes.
FEEDERFELL MONGER[1] A remover of hair or wool from hides in leather making.
[2] Dealer in hides and skins esp. sheep.
FELLER[1] Textile worker who laid or felled seams in material.
[2] Tree or wood cutter.
FELTERGenerally referred to a worker in the hating industry.
FERONERFERRETERDealer in or manufacturer of ferret, i.e. silk tape.
FERUR (FERATOR)FESTITIANMis-spelling for physician.
FETTLER[1] Cleaned the machinery in woollen mills, removing accumulated fibres, grease, etc.
[2] fettlers sharpened the fustian cutters knives.
[3] Needlemaker who filed the needle to a point.
FEVERFEWSTERFEWTERERThe keeper of hounds, for hunting or coursing. The tender of greyhounds.
FEYDUR BEATERFIELD MASTERFILIBUSTERAmerican mercenaries in South America, gun runners.
FILLERA person who filled bobbins in mills.
FINE DRAWERA person employed in tailoring to repair tears in the cloth. Invisible mending.
FINISHERA person who operated machines giving final touches to a manufactured article in various trades. Cloth finisher.
FIREBEATERA person who tended the boilers that powered the machinery in a cotton mill.
FIRST HANDSilk weaver who had his own loom. An outworker.
FISCEREA fisherman (Anglo-Saxon).
FISH FAGFISHER (FISHDRYVER)FITTEROriginally applied to a joiner. In 19c a common term for a person who assembled several portions of machinery together.
[2] A coal broker.
FLASHERA specialist process worker in the glass industry.
FLATMANNavigated a broad flat-bottomed boat used for transport, especially in shallow waters. Common in the salt trade.
FLAUNERFLAXDRESSERPrepared flax prior to spinning.
FLESHERA butcher or tannery worker.
FLESHER[1] A butcher or a person who worked in a tannery.
[2] Nickname for a pimp.
FLESHEWERFLESHMONGERFLETCHERMade bows and arrows, an arrowsmith. (from Fr. fleche).
FLOATERFLOATMANFLOWERFLUSHERMANA person who cleaned out water mains.
FLYCOACHMANA driver of a one-horse carriage hired by the day. See also JOBMASTER.
FLYING STATIONERA street broadsheet seller.
FLYMAN[1] Driver of a light vehicle hired out for carriage of passengers.
[2] Theatre stage hand.
FOGGER[1] Petty chapman, carrying wares from village to village.
[2] Middleman in nail and chain trade.
[3] Agricultural worker responsible for feeding the cattle.
[4] Low class lawyer (Pettifogger).
FOISTER(ER)FOOT MAIDENFOOT MANA servant who ran errands.
FOOT PADFOOT STRAIGHTENERIn watchmaking, a person who assembled watch and clock dials.
FOOT-BOY or MANA servant or attendant in livery.
FOOT-POSTA letter carrier or messenger who travelled on foot.
FORESTERA game warden or forest ranger.
FORGEMAN[1] Blacksmith or assistant,
[2] Coachsmith (18c. Derbyshire).
FORGERA Blacksmith, worker at a forge.
FORKNERA Falconer, (mis-spelling).
FOSSETMAKERA person who made faucets for ale-casks, etc.
FOWERA street cleaner, sweeper.
FRAME SPINNERFRAMERA person who made frames for houses.
FRAMEWORKER KNITTERAn operator of a machine which made hosiery. Originally a hand loom was used. Often abbreviated to FWK.
FREEDMANA person released from slavery.
FREEHOLDERone who holds land by fee simple. In colonial times, a free-holder had the right to vote and hold public office.
FREEMANone who held the full rights of citizenship, such as voting and engaging in business (as opposed to an indentured servant). a man who was free of trade taxes and who shared in the profits of the borough in which he lived and traded, a tenant who was free of feudal service and a man who had served his apprenticeship and who could then work at his trade in his own right. In the city of London nearly all freemen became so by virtue of being freemen of a City Guild. On attaining company freedom, a man would automatically apply for the freedom of the City. He was entitled to call himself ‘Citizen’.
FREEMASONFRESERA maker of frieze, a rough plaster.
FRESHWATER MANA sailor who sailed boat on fresh water only or in the coastal trade.
FRINGEMAKERA person who made fringes, ornamental borders of cloth.
FRIPPERERA buyer & seller of old clothes.
FRISEURFROBISHERFRUITERERFRUITESTEREFULKERFULLERSee also Tucker and Walker. Term found mainly in S. and E. England. Originally a person who used fuller's earth to thicken and cleanse cloth, by treading it under water.
FUNAMBULISTFURBISHERA worker who removed rust, a polisher of metal, e.g. armour.
FURNERFURRIERA dealer, maker or dresser of furs.
FUSTIAN WEAVERFUYSTER
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GABELERGAFFER[1] Foreman of a gang of workers.
[2] An elderly rustic, an old man.
GAFFMANGAGERA tax collector of liquor taxes.
GALVANISERAn iron worker who handled process of coating metal with zinc, to inhibit formation of rust.
GAME KEEPERA person who worked on an estate and protected the game and livestock from the intrusion of poachers. The role was not unlike that of the ancient foresters, who protected the stocks of the King's game.
GAMESTER[1] A gambler,
[2] A prostitute (19c. slang).
GANGERAn overseer or foreman, 1850 onwards.
GANGSMANGANNEKERGAOLERGARTHMAN[1] Yardman or herdsman.
[2] One responsible for the upkeep of a garth, a dam built in a river to catch fish.
[3] Owner or worker of a fish trap.
GATERGATHERERA glassworker who inserted the blow iron into the molten glass ready for the blower (q.v.).
GATHERERS BOYSee Gatherer. A person who held a shovel to shield the gatherer's face from the heat of a fire or furnace.
GATWARDGAUGERA customs official who measured the capacity of imported barrels of liquor in order to calculate the customs duty.
GAUNTERGAVELLER[1] Usurer.
[2] In the Forest of Dean, an officer of the Crown who granted gales or the right to work a mine.
[3] In Suffolk a harvest worker, usually female.
GELDERA castrator of animals, especially horses.
GENTLEMANa member of the gentry, a descendant from an aristocratic family whose income came from the rental of his land.
GENTRYremaining families of hereditary rank. In the English system, the baronets and the knights.
GEOMETERA person skilled in geometry.
GERUND GRINDERLatin instructor (nickname).
GILDERA person who applied gold leaf.
GIMLERA machinist involved in making a gimp, a kind of card.
GINOURGIRDLERA leather worker who made girdles and belts, chiefly for the Army.
GIRTHOXTERGLASS COACHMANSee Jobmaster. Driver of two-horse carriage hired out for the day.
GLASSMANGLAZIERA glass cutter or window glassman.
GOAT CARRIAGE MANA driver of small passenger carriage.
GOLDSMITH[1] A maker of gold articles,
[2] A banker (nickname).
GOODMANa solid member of the community who ranked above a free-man but below a gentleman on the social scale.
GOOSE HERDA person who tends geese.
GORZEMANA seller of gorse or broom.
GRACE WIFEGRAFFERGRANGERGRAVER[1] A carver or sculptor, engraver of images.
[2] Dockside worker who cleaned ship bottoms by burning and tarring.
GRAZIERA person who pastures and raises cattle.
GREAVE or GRIEVEBailiff, foreman, sheriff.
GREEN GROCERA fruit and vegetable seller.
GREENSMITHA worker in copper or latten.
GREENWICH BARBERA retailer of sand collected from the Greenwich pits.
GRIFFINA European newly arrived in India, and unaccustomed to Indian ways; a novice, a newcomer, a greenhorn.
GRIMBRIBBERGRINDER[1] A person who operated grinding machine. Found in various trades, metal works, knife sharpening, cutlery in general, also glass and toolmaking.
[2] Worker who maintained a carding machine (textile industry).
[3] A private tutor (slang).
GROOVERGROUNDSEL & CHICKWEED SELLERA street seller of common weeds, used to feed pet song-birds.
GUARDIANan appointee of the court who cares for the property and rights of a minor or someone incapable of handling his or her own affairs.
GUINEA PIGAn unattached or roving person whose fee was usually a guinea (slang).
GUMMERA person who improved old saws by deepening the cuts.
GYPA college servant especially one attending undergraduates.
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HABERDASHER[1] Dealer in small articles, eg. ribbons, needles, pins.
[2] Dealer in hats, shirts, ties, collars, etc. in particular men's clothing.
HACKER[1] Wood cutter.
[2] A person who made or used hoes, axe, or other cutting tools.
HACKLERA worker in the linen industry. A person who separated the coarse part of flax or hemp with a hackle, an instrument with teeth.
HACKMANHACKNEY MANA renter of horses & carriages.
HAIR SEATING & CURLED HAIR MERCHANTA dealer in horse-hair stuffing used in upholstery.
HAIRMANHAIRWEAVERA weaver of cloth composed wholly or partly of horsehair.
HALBERT CARRIERA soldier or halberdier, armed with a halberd, a combination spear and battleaxe. A ceremonial officer.
HAMMERMANHANDSELLERHANDWOMANA midwife or female attendant.
HARLOT[1] Vagabond, beggar, rogue.
[2] 14c. male servant, attendant or menial.
[3] 15c. Loose woman.
HARMER BECKHARPERHATCHELER or HATCHLERA person who cleaned, combed or carded flax.
HATTERA maker of or dealer in hats.
HAWKER[1] Street seller who cried his wares in town,
[2] Often applied to country peddlers as a term of abuse,
[3] Itinerant dealer who carried his wares on his back.
HAYMONGERHAYWARD[1] Inspector of hedges and fences of a parish who also impounded stray beasts
[2] Man who tended field set aside to produce hay.
[3] A fence viewer.
HEADSMANNickname for an executioner.
HEADSWOMANHEALD KNITTERAn operator of a machine which produced a jersey type of fabric as opposed to woven fabric. (Textile Industry).
HECK MAKERA maker of a part of a spinning machine by which the yarn is guided to the reels.
HECKLERHEDGE LOOKERsee Hayward. Supervised good repair of fence and enclosures.
HEDGERHEELMAKERA person who made shoe heels.
HELLIERA slater or tiler of roofs.
HELPER-UPA young boy employed in Durham pits to help other workers.
HEMP HECKLERA flax dresser. See hackler.
HENCHMAN[1] A horseman or groom;
[2] A Squire, a page of honour.
[3] Chief attendant of Highland chief.
HENSMANHENTERHEWERA miner who cut coal, stone, etc., a face worker in a mine.
HIGGLERA person who haggles or bargains. An itinerant peddler or dealer, similar to a cadger.
HIGH SHERIFFthe highest-ranking sheriff, as opposed to deputy sheriffs. The term was popular in England and Colonial America.
HIGHWAYMANA robber who preys on public roads.
HILLIERA slater or tiler of roofs.
HILLIERHIND[1] A household or domestic servant,
[2] In SCT a skilled farm labourer.
HINXMANHIRED MANA gardener, farmhand, or stableman.
HOBBLERA person who was employed to tow a boat on the rivers or canals.
HODHODSMANHOGGARDHOLLOWARE WORKER[1] Pottery worker who made ornaments, teapots, etc. as opposed to flatware such as plates, dishes,
[2] One involved in the production of tin trunks, boxes, etc. or the painting and graining of them. HOLLOWARE was also a trade name for hollow articles of iron, as pots and kettles.
HOOFERHOOKER[1] 16c. Reaper,
[2] 19c. Worker in textile industry who operated a machine which laid fabric flat in uniform folds of any required length.
HOOPERA maker of hoops for barrels or casks.
HORNERA worker in horn making spoons, combs, or musical horns.
HORSE COPERHORSE COURSERHORSE KNAVEHORSE LEECHA horse-doctor, or Farrier. See Cowleech. Veterinarian.
HORSE MARINEMan-handled barges on canals when horses could not be used.
HORSE-CAPPERA dealer in worthless horses.
HORSE-HAIR CURLERDressed horse hair which was used extensively in the upholstery trade.
HOSIER[1] A retailer of stockings, socks, gloves, night-caps, etc.
[2] The owner of frame-work knitting machines hired them out to workers to produce stockings.
HOSTELLERHOSTLER[1] A person cares for horses, stableman, groom,
[2] USA repairer of railway engines.
HOTPRESSERA worker in paper or textile industries. Product was pressed between glazed boards and hot metal plates to obtain a smooth and shiny surface.
HOUSE JOINERHOUSE WRIGHTHOWDY WIFEHOYMANA person who engaged in the carriage of goods and passengers by water. (Hoy = small coastal vessel or sloop).
HUCKSTER[1] Street Seller of ale, often a woman,
[2] Retailer of small wares in shop or booth.
HUISSHERAn usher. A door attendant.
HURDLEMAN or HURDLERA hedge-maker, of wattled framework fencing, a southern counties trade.
HURRIERSIn coal mining, term applied to the girls aged 5-18 who were employed as coal-drawers (q.v.).
HUSBANDMANA tenant farmer who cultivated the land.
HUSH SHOP KEEPERA person who brewed and sold beer without a licence (usually as a side line).
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ICEMANA seller or deliverer of ice.
IDLEMANINDENTURED SERVANTone who was voluntarily or involuntarily committed to working for someone for a fixed number of years (usually 4 to 7) in exchange for passage to America or some other financial advantage. The lowest person on the totem pole, an indentured servant had few, if any, rights, but people without skills or money accepted this position in order to emigrate. After the period of work was over, the servant usually became a freeman.
INFIRMARIANA person in charge of an infirmary.
INTELLIGENCERINTENDENTA director of a public or government business.
INTERFACTORIRON FOUNDERA person who founds or casts iron.
IRON INDUSTRYSupported among others the following occupations: Brazier, Broker, Caster, Founder, Galvaniser, Moulder, Monger, Shearer, Platemaker, Worker.
IRON MASTERThe owner or manager of a foundry.
IRON MONGERA dealer in hardware made of iron. Also known as a Feroner.
IRON SMITHA worker in iron, a blacksmith.
IVORY WORKERSIncluded makers of combs, boxes, billiard balls, buttons, and keys for pianofortes.
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JACK[1] A young male assistant,
[2] A sailor,
[3] A lumberjack.
JACK-FRAME TENTERCotton industry worker who operated a jack-frame, used for giving a twist to the thread.
JACK-SMITHMaker of lifting machinery and contrivances.
JAGGER[1] Carrier, carter, pedlar or hawker of fish.
[2] 19c. Derbyshire. A young boy in charge of 'jags' or train of trucks in coal mine.
[3] Man in charge of pack horse carrying iron ore to be smelted.
[4] From 1899 a uniformed messenger boy employed by a London business firm.
JAKES-FARMERA person who emptied cesspools.
JAPANNERA varnisher who used lacquering process invented in Japan. Closely allied to papier-mâché trade.
JERQUERCustom house officer who searched ships.
JERSEY COMBERWorker in woollen manufacture. (Jersey = wool which has been combed but not spun into yarn).
JOB COACHMANSee JOBMASTER. Driver of coach hired out for long periods to nobility or gentry.
JOBBERA buyer in quantity to sell to others, a pieceworker.
JOBLING GARDENEROne employed on a casual basis. Also Jobbing.
JOBMASTERA person who supplied carriages, horses and drivers for hire.
JOINERA craftsman who works with wood. A skilled carpenter.
JONGLEURJOURNEYMANA craftsman who had served an apprenticeship and was no longer bound to serve a master. Distinguished on one side from apprentice, on the other from master.
JOUSTERA female hawker of fish who usually travelled on foot for town to town. A fish monger
JOYNERJUSTICIARThe head of the royal judicial system and the king's viceroy when absent from the country.
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KEDGERKEEKERColliery official who checked quantity and quality of coal output. See WEIGHMAN.
KEELERKEELMANA bargeman. From keel, a flat bottomed boat.
KEMPSTERKIDDIER[1] Skinner,
[2] Dealer in young goats.
KILNERA limeburner, in charge of a kiln.
KISSERMade cuishes and high armour.
KNACKERA dealer in old horses, dead animals. Harness maker, saddler.
KNAPPERSA worker who dressed and shaped flints into required shape and size. Major use was flintlocks in weapons for British Army.
KNELLERA chimney sweep who solicited custom by knocking on doors.
KNIGHTThe retainer of a feudal lord who owes military service for his fief, usually the service of one fully equipped, mounted warrior. The ideals to which a knight may aspire are notably prowess, loyalty, generosity and courtesy.
KNOCKER-UPThe man employed to wake up northern mill and factory workers on early shifts, going from house to house using a long pole to knock on bedroom windows.
KNOCKKNOBBLERKNOLLERKNULLER
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LACE DRAWERA child employed in lace work, drawing out threads.
LACE MASTER or MISTRESSA person who employed workers in factories or in their homes for the production of lace.
LACE RUNNERA young worker who embroidered patterns on lace.
LACEMANA dealer in lace, who collected it from the makers, usually only those who had bought his thread, and sold it in the lace markets.
LACEWOMANLAGGERLAGRAETMANA local constable (Law-Rightman).
LAND WAITERA customs officer whose duty was to wait or attend on landed goods.
LANDSMANA seaman on first voyage.
LAPIDARYA person who cuts, polishes or engraves precious stones.
LARDNERThe keeper of the cupboard.
LASTERA person who made shoes using a last, a cobbler.
LATH RENDER(ER)A person who puts the first coat of plaster onto laths on floor and ceiling. (a plaster's assistant).
LATTENERA skilled metal worker who made or worked in latten, a mixed metal resembling brass.
LAUNDERERLAUNDERESSA washerwoman, a person who washed linen.
LAVENDERA washerwoman, from French laver, to wash.
LAYERA worker in paper mill responsible for a particular stage in paper-making process.
LEAVELOOKERA person who examined food on sale at market.
LEDERERLEECHLEGERDEMAINISTLEGGERA canal boatman. Barges had to be legged through underground tunnels by the men lying flat on deck and 'walking' along the roof or sides of the tunnel thus propelling the boat along by leg power not horse power. See also HORSE MARINE.
LEIGHTONWARDA gardener (leighton = a garden).
LETTER CARRIER18c. Forerunner of local postman. The Post Office appointed a large number of letter carriers in 1722 to make house to house deliveries within a town.
LICENCED VICTUALERA seller of alcoholic beverages.
LIGHTERMANA boatman who worked on a lighter, a large open flat-bottomed boat used in loading and unloading larger sea going ships.
LIMNERAn illuminator of books, painter or drawer.
LINENERA linen draper, shirtmaker.
LINER or LYNERLINKERBOY or MAN[1] A person who carried a link or torch to guide people through city streets at night for a small fee. Had to be licensed to trade in early 19c.
[2] Term sometimes applied to general manservant late 19c.
LISTERLITSTERLITTERMANLOADSMANLOBLOLLY BOY[1] An errand boy.
[2] Surgeon's assistant on board ship (Naut).
LOCK KEEPERAn overseer of canal locks.
LODGERA person who was provide with accommodation but was not supplied with meals. See BOARDER
LOG WOOD GRINDERPreparer of a dye made from logwood, used in textile industry.
LONG SONG SELLERA street seller who sold popular songsheets printed on paper about a yard long.
LONGSHOREMAN[1] A landsman employed to load and unload ships, a Stevedore.
[2] A fisherman who fishes from or along the shore.
LORIMER or LORINERSee also Spurrier. [1] Made spits, bridles, and other metal parts for the harness of horses.
[2] Maker of small ironware.
[3] Worker in wrought iron.
LORMERLOTSELLERLUM SWOOPERLUMPER[1] Dock labourer who discharged cargo of timber. Employed by a Master Lumper, not the Dock Company.
[2] Fine-grain saltmaker, from practice of moulding salt into lumps.
LUNGSAn alchemist's servant whose duty was to fan the fire.
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MACHINE BREAKERMembers of the English labouring class who in the early 19th century revolted and broke threshing machines, spinning machines, and other forms of mechanisation.
MADERERA person who gathered and sold garlic.
MAIDA female domestic servant. Class included Scullery, Kitchen, House, General, Parlour, Nurse, Laundry, Lady's etc.
MAIL GUARDAn armed guard, frequently an ex-soldier, employed on the mail coach service, inaugurated in 178
[4] Later Post Office guards were officially appointed.
MAISE MAKERA person who made measures for weighing herring catch.
MAKER-UP[1] Garment assembler, A person who prepared or 'made up' material to customers requirements.
[2] Chemist or druggist.
[3] Agent for paraffin.
MALEMAKERA maker of 'Males' or travelling bags. Term was adopted by the Royal Mail from the bags in which the letters were carried.
MALENDERMALERMALSTERA person who prepared malt for the brewing industry.
MANCHESTER MANalso Shrewsbury, Sheffield, etc. Late 18c. A wholesale travelling merchant trading between factory and shopkeeper with goods on packhorses. Sometimes independent, sometimes employed by the manufacturer.
MANCIPLEMANGLE KEEPERA woman who hired the use of the mangle to others for a fee.
MANGOMANTLE FOREWOMANA highly skilled dressmaker.
MANTUA MAKERA Dressmaker. (Mantua = a woman's loose gown).
MARBLERA person who stained paper or other material, veined in imitation of marble.
MARINE STORE DEALERA licensed broker (N. England and Scotland) (i) buys and sells used cordgae, bunting, rags, timber, metal and other general waste materials; usually sorts waste, when purchased, by kind, grade, etc; repairs and mends sacks, etc., or employs workers for these purposes; (ii) in Scotland, a Ship Candler.
MARINERA person who obtained a living on the sea in whatever rank, equivalent to the R.N. rank of Able Seaman.
MARSHALLA horse doctor or shoesmith.
MARSHMANA man employed by various landowners to look after marshlands and tend the animals put to graze there for the season.
MASHMAKERA maker of the mash-vats or mashels used for mixing malt.
MASONA stonecutter or stone-dresser.
MASTEROne of three grades of skill recognised by the Guild of Crafts. A skilled workman or one in business on his own.
MASTER LUMPERA contractor of labourers at cheap rate of pay. Generally a publican who only hired and paid customers who frequented their public houses.
MASTER MARINERMATCHET FORGERA knifemaker (Machete = heavy axe-like knife used as a chopping tool).
MATHERMAWERMEALMANA dealer in meal or flour.
MECHANIC[1] Manual labourer, working at a trade.
[2] Operator of a machine (less skilled than an engineer).
[3] A person who uses machinery to produce goods, e.g. frame-work knitter, spinner, weaver, etc.
MELDERMERCATORMERCERA cloth seller, chiefly silks and velvets. See DRAPER.
METALMANMETERERMIDWIFEAn experience woman who assists in child birth.
MILLERA person who converted materials into another form, e.g. Corn miller, cloth miller, saw miller.
MILLERESSMILLINER[1] Seller of fancy wares and articles of apparel.
[2] Maker of ladies hats, bonnets, etc.
MILLPECKA sharpener of mill stones.
MILLWRIGHTA person who designed or built mills and mill machinery.
MILSTONE INSPECTORA vagrant, a gentleman of the road.
MINERA worker in a mine, digging for coal, ironstone, lead, tin miner, etc.
MINTMAKER or MINTMASTERAn issuer of local currency.
MIXERMOCADO WEAVERA weaver of woollen cloth used for making clothes 16-17c. Sometimes called mock velvet.
MOLITORMONDAYMANSee Cottager. A person who worked for landowner on Mondays in lieu of rent.
MONGERA dealer in goods (i.e., fishmonger, ironmonger).
MONTHLY NURSEA nurse attending women in the first month after confinement.
MOULDERA maker of moulds or castings, a brickmaker.
MOULDER RUNNERA pottery moulder's assistant, a young boy who ran between master and drying oven, carrying full moulds and returning with empty ones.
MOUNTEBANKA seller of ineffectual patent medicines.
MUDLARKA sewer cleaner, riverbank scavenger.
MUFFIN MAKERA baker who made muffins, round flat cakes of dough which were toasted before eating.
[2] Pottery worker who made a specific type of plate, i.e. a seven inch tea plate known as a muffin.
MUFFIN MANAn itinerant seller of muffins.
MUGGLERMUGSELLERMULESKINNERMULETEERMULTURERMUSICKERMUSTARDERMUSTARDMAN
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NAILORNAPERERA Royal servant in charge of the table linen.
NAPIERA person in charge of the table linen in the Manor House. See NAPERER.
NARROW WEAVERA weaver of ribbons, tapes, etc.
NAVIGATOR[1] A sailor in charge of navigating.
[2] A labourer who dug canals and later worked on the railways. The origin of navvy.
NAVIGORNEATHERD(ER)NECESSARY WOMANA servant responsible for emptying and cleaning chamber pots.
NECKERA worker responsible for the feeding of cardboard into the machine the makes boxes.
NEDELLERNEEDLE POINTER[1] In needlemaking a filer or fettler.
[2] A person engaged in the craft of needlepoint.
NETTERNIGHT SOILMANA person employed to empty cesspits, ashpits and backyard toilets.
NIGHTMANNIGHTWALKERNIMGIMMERNIPPERA lorry boy, a young person employed by the carter or wagoner to assist with the collection and delivery of goods.
NOB THATCHERNOON TENDERA person who guarded the goods on the quay while the officers were a lunch.
NOTARYa person officially authorised to draw up or attest to contracts, wills, deeds, or similar documents, to protest bills of exchange.
NOTERER
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OCCUPIEROILMANA person who sold the oil for lamps.
OLITORA kitchen gardener. From Olitory (a kitchen garden).
ORDERLYA soldier who functioned as a servant for an officer.
ORDINARY KEEPERORRERY MAKERA person who made a mechanical apparatus for showing the movements of the planets. Named after the Earl of Orrery the inventor.
ORRICE WEAVERA designer of lace patterns to be woven with silk thread and silk.
OSIER PEELERA person who removed bark from willow rods or osiers which were used in basket weaving, usually women and children. Also known as withy peelers.
OSTIARYOSTLEROUT CRIEROUTWORKERA worker who carried on their occupation at home, e.g., cotton or woollen weavers but it applies to many occupations.
OVERLOOKERA superintendent or overseer, especially in the textile mills. Often an hereditary position.
OVERMANA supervisor in a colliery who checked the miners work and the quality of the mined coal.
OWLERA person associated with smuggling particularly a sheep or wool smuggler.
OYSTER DREDGERA member of the crew on board an oyster fishing boat.
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PACK THREAD SPINNERThe operator of the machine which made thread or twine.
PACKERA person who packs goods such as pickles or herring.
PACKMANA pedlar, a person who travelled around carrying goods for sale in a pack.
PAD MAKERA person who made small baskets used for measuring.
PAINTERA person who painted things e.g. houses wooden goods, etc or an Artist.
PAINTRESSA woman employed in the pottery industry to hand paint the finished articles.
PALINGMANA seller of eels, a fishmonger.
PALISTERA Park Keeper, a person who ensured the parks were safe and well kept.
PALMERA person who had been, or pretended to have been, to the Holy Land.
PANNIER MANPANNIFEXSomebody who worked in the cloth trade.
PANSMITHA person who made pans i.e. a metal worker.
PANTERThe keeper of the pantry.
PANTLERPAPAYA MANA person who was involved in trade with New Guinea, from Papua New Guinea.
PAPER MAKERSee Vatman, Coucher, Layer, Sizer.
PAPERERA person employed in the needlemaking trade to insert the needles into the paper ready for sale.
PAPERHANGERAn interior decorator who put up wallpaper.
PAPER STAINERGeneral term for workers engaged in colouring paper by hand or machine.
PARDONERPARGETERThe person who applied ornamental plaster to buildings.
PARITORA church officer who attended the magistrates and justices at court for the purpose of executing their orders.
PARKERThe person in charge of a park usually a hunting or game park.
PASSAGE KEEPERA person who kept passages and alleys clean.
PASTELERPASTORPATTEN MAKERA clog maker or the person who made wooden soles (pattens) to fit under normal shoes to protect from wet and muddy ground.
PAVERPAVIOURA person paid to maintain pavements. A person who laid paving stones.
PAVYLERA person who put up pavilions or tents etc.
PAWNBROKERA person who loaned money with interest against items of value left for security.
PEDASCULEPEDLARA person who sold things house to house or on the road. A person who bought and sold goods for cash.
PEELERA policeman, constable, bobby. From Sir Robert Peel founder of the police force.
PEEVERPELTERERA person who worked with animal skins.
PERAMBULATORPERCHEMEARA person who made parchment.
PEREGRINATORItinerant wanderer or worker.
PERFUMERA maker or seller of perfumes.
PERIWIG MAKERPERUKE MAKERPERUKERPESSONERPETER MANPETTIFOGGERPETTY CHAPMANAn itinerant dealer in small goods, a pedlar. See CHAPMAN.
PEW OPENERA person hired to open the doors to private pews in church.
PHILOSOPHICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERA craftsman who made scientific instruments.
PHRENOLOGISTA diviner of a person's character based on the bumps on a person's head.
PICKERA person who cast the shuttle on a loom.
PIECE BROKERA person who sold material remnants.
PIECE WORKERA worker who was paid for the number or pieces produced rather than by the hour. People who worked from home were usually pieceworkers. However in more recent times sewing machine operators employed to make part of the garment and still worked in the mill were paid for piecework.
PIECEMASTERThe middleman between employer and employee who passed out the piecework.
PIECENERPIECERA person usually a child, who worked in a spinning mill, employed to piece together any threads which broke.
PIGMAKERA person who made pig or cast iron, also a pottery worker.
PIGMAN[1] A person who sold crockery.
[2] A person who bred or looked after pigs on the farm.
PIKELET MAKERA baker who specialised in making pikelets (a small pancake or crumpet).
PIKEMAN[1] A millers assistant.
[2] A person who worked at the turnpike.
[3] In olden days a soldier who carried a pike.
PIKERPILL BOX BOTTOMERA person responsible for making the bottoms of pill boxes in the pottery trade.
PILL BOX LIDDERA person responsible for making the lids of pill boxes in the pottery trade.
PILLERPILOTPINDER[1] A dog catcher and pound keeper.
[2] A person in charge of the pinfold.
PINERPINNERPINNER UPA dressmakers assistant. A person who sold broadsheets or ballads in the streets.
PIPERPISTORPIT BROW LASSA female worker who worked on the surface of the mines.
PITMANPLAIN WORKERA person who performed plain sewing or needlework as opposed to an embroiderer.
PLAISTERERPLAITERA maker of straw plaits used in making hats etc.
PLANKERA person who planks or kneads the body of the hat during felting.
PLASTERERA person who worked with roman cement used in stuccoing.
PLAYDERERPLEACHER /PLAICHER /PLATCHER / PLASHERPLOWMANPLOWWRIGHTA maker or repairer of ploughs.
PLUMASSIERA person who made or sold plumes, ornamental feathers.
PLUMBERA person who worked with lead. However as lead was the main metal used in pipes for water, gas, etc, it became the term used for a tradesman who installed or repaired pipes and drains of all types.
PLUMERPODIATRISTPOINTERA person who sharpened needles or pins, etc.
POINTMAKERA person who made the tips of laces.
POINTMANA person who made the tips of laces.
POINTSMANA railway worker who operated the points to change the line (track) on which the train was travelling.
POLDAVE WORKERA person who made poldave, a coarse fabric.
POLE LATHE TURNERPOLEMANPOLENTIERPOLLERPONDERATORAn inspector of weights and measures.
PONY DRIVERA person (usually a child) in charge of the pit pony which pulled the coal tubs underground.
PORTABLE SOUP MAKERA person who converted soup into a dry form for transporting from place to place.
PORTERA person employed to carry baggage or attend to doors in public places. A door or gatekeeper.
PORTMANTEAU MAKER A maker of leather trunks for clothes, etc., opening into two equal parts.
POST BOYA person who carried mail from town to town. A guard who travelled on the mail coach. An outrider who travelled with the stagecoach as a postillion.
POSTERA person who worked in the quarries breaking rocks.
POSTILLIONA person who attached extra horses to wagons & coaches to help pull them up hills
POSTILLIONA person who worked on long distance coaches and who's duty it was to change the horses at the stops.
POSTMANPOT BOY or MANA person who worked in public houses washing and removing dirty pots also did other menial tasks.
POT BURNERA person who placed the pot in a furnace to be fired.
POTATO BADGERPOTTERA maker or seller of pottery.
POTTER CARRIERPOTTER PRESSERA potter who used a mould.
POTTER THROWERA potter who used a wheel and therefore had to "throw" the clay.
POUCH MAKERA person who made pouches or purses.
POULTERPOULTERERA dealer who bought and sold poultry.
POWER LOOM TUNERA person who maintained the loom in mills.
POWLERPOYNTERPRECEPTRESSPRENTISPRICK LOUISEPRICKER[1] A pattern maker.
[2] A horseman.
[3] A witch hunter.
PRIG NAPPERPRINTERPROCTORThe official of a university.
PROP BOBBYA person who worked in mines checking the pit props.
PROTHONARYPUBLICANPUDDLER[1] A person who worked clay into puddle.
[2] A person who worked with puddle to make things water tight e.g. canal walls.
[3] A person who worked in puddling iron.
PUGGARDPUGGERA person employed by brick manufacturers to produce clay paste by treading like grapes, usually women and children.
PULLEY MAKERA person who made pulleys for hoists.
PUMBUM WORKERPUMP MAKERA person who made mechanical pumps.
PUNKYPURE GATHERER or PICKERA person, usually an old woman or child, who roamed the streets especially in London, gathering dog faeces. These were used in the tanning industry for processing hides.
PURSERA ship's officer in charge of provisions & accounts.
PUTTERA person employed in the coal mine to haul the mine tubs.
PUTTER INA person who was employed to put things in to some form of mechanised process.
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QUARREL PICKERQUARRIERA person who worked in a quarry, a quarryman.
QUARRYMANQUILLERA person who operated a machine that wound yarn onto spools.
QUILTER or QUILTRESSA person who quilted material.
QUISTERA person who bleached things.
QWYLWRYGHTE
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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.
RAFFMANA person who dealt in raff (saleable rubbish).
RAG AND BONE MANA person who went from street to street with a cart and collected any old rubbish, usually in exchange for a small item e.g. a block of soapstone.
RAG CUTTERA person who cut up rags into small pieces to be used for making paper etc.
RAG GATHERERSA person (usually children) employed to clear the rags from the machinery in the mills.
RAG MANA person who went from street to street collecting and selling old clothes and rags.
RAG PICKERA person who sorted through the left over rags to find reusable ones.
RAKERA street sanitation worker.
RATONERRATTLEWATCHREDARAn interpreter of dreams.
REDSMITHREEDERA person who worked with reeds for hedging or thatching.
REEDMAKERA person who made the pipe for a musical instrument. A person who made a weavers implement (a reed) or reed cloth or the comb used in tapestry.
REELERA person employed to operate the machine that wound the yarn onto the bobbin.
REEVEA royal official, or a manor official appointed by the lord or elected by the peasants. A church warden.
REEVERREGISTRARAn official who registers events such as land purchases or births, marriages or deaths.
RELIEVING OFFICERAn official who took charge of poor or insane persons not otherwise cared for.
RENOVATORA person who repaired clothing.
REVENUERA taxman who enforces tax laws on liquor.
RICKMASTERRIDDLERRIFTERERIGGERA hoist tackle worker; works on a ship's rigging.
RIPPER or RIPPIERA person who sold fresh water fish at the markets. A maker and seller of baskets.
RIVERMANA worker on a river boat.
ROCKGETTERROCKMANA person who worked in a quarry usually placing the charges on the rockface.
RODMANA surveyor's assistant. See POLEMAN.
ROLL TURNERA carder of wool, cotton etc into rolls prior to spinning.
ROLLER COVERERA person who covered the rollers for the spinning process.
ROLLEYWAY MANThe person who maintained the underground road in the mines.
ROMAN CEMENTER A person who worked with roman cement used in stuccoing.
ROPERA maker of ropes or nets.
ROVERROVERAn operator of a machine used in the cotton mills in Lancashire, which prepared the carded fibre into rolls.
RUBBISHERA person who sorted the small stones in the quarries.
RUBBLERA person who sorted the small stones in the quarries.
RUGMANRUNNER[1] A person who worked for the magistrate best remembered as Bow Street Runners.
[2] A nickname for a smuggler.
[3] A messenger.
RUSTLER
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SADDLE TREE MAKERA person who made the frames for saddles that the saddler used.
SADDLERA person who made saddles, harnesses, horse collars, bridles etc.
SAGGER MAKERA person who made the fireclay containers in which the stoneware was placed ready for firing.
SALESMANA person who sold things.
SALOONISTSALT BOILERA person who obtained salt by boiling water.
SALTERA person who made or dealt in salt.
SANDESMANAn ambassador or messenger.
SANDWICHMANA person who wears a sandwich billboard for advertising.
SARCINET WEAVERSAUCERA person who made or dealt in salt.
SAWBONESSAWYERA person who worked in a timber mill or pit, sawing timber into boards.
SAY WEAVERA person who made Say, a material used for table cloths or bedding.
SCAGIOLA MAKERA person who made imitation marble.
SCALERAKER / SCAVENGERA person employed by the parish to clean the streets.
SCAPPLERA person who roughly shaped the stone prior to being finished by the stonemason.
SCAVELMANA person employed to keep the waterways and ditches clear.
SCHRIMPSCHONGERAn artisan who carves in bone, ivory, or wood.
SCHUMACKERSCOTCH DRAPERA person who sold goods door to door with payment to be made by instalments.
SCOTCHMANA person who sold goods door to door with payment to be made by instalments.
SCREENERA person who screened the ore at the mines surface.
SCRIBBLER[1] A person employed in a scibbling mill where the wool was roughly carded before spinning.
[2] A minor or worthless author.
SCRIBESCRIBERA person employed at the docks to mark the cotton bales with the approximate weight ready for selling by the brokers.
SCRIBLERA minor or worthless author.
SCRIMERSCRIPTURE READERA person employed 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.
SCRIVENER[1] A person who wrote out legal documents etc.
[2] A clerk or notary
SCRUTINEERSCULLERY MAIDA female servant who performed all the menial tasks.
SCULLIONA male servant who performed all the menial tasks.
SCUTCHERA person who beat the flax to soften the straw in the bundles.
SEAL PRESSERA person employed in the glass industry to seal the bath against air intake which could spoil the finished surface.
SEARCHERSEEDSMAN[1] A dealer of seeds,
[2] A sower of seeds.
SELF ACTING MINDERA person in charge of the automatic spinning mule in the mills.
SEMI LORERA person who made leather thongs.
SEMPSTERSEMPSTRESSSENESCHALA senior steward at the Manor.
SEWER HUNTERA scavenger who concentrated on the sewers trying to find valuable objects.
SEWER RATA bricklayer who specialised in making and repairing sewers and tunnels.
SEWING CLERKA collector of clothing piecework.
SEWSTERSHAGREEN CASE MAKERA person who worked with shagreen leather.
SHANTY MANSHARECROPPERA tenant farmer who would be paid with part of the crop.
SHEARERA person who removed the fleece from sheep.
SHEARGRINDERA person who sharpened shears, scissors.
SHEARMANA person who sheared cloth or metal.
SHEATH MAKERA person who made scabbards for swords.
SHEEPMANSHEPSTER[1] A sheep shearer.
[2] A dressmaker.
SHEARMANA skilled worker who sheared the nap from cloth, often working in Gig Mills. See also CROPPERS.
SHINGLERA roof tiler who used wooden tiles (shingles).
SHIP HUSBANDA repairer of ships while in harbour.
SHIP MASTERAn owner or captain of a ship.
SHIPWRIGHTA constructor or repairer or ships.
SHOE FINDERA seller of shoe maker's tools.
SHOE WIPERA servant who polished shoes.
SHOEMAKERSHOESMITH[1] A cobbler.
[2] A person who shoed horses.
SHOT FIRERA person in charge of blasting in mines or quarries.
SHRAGERA person who trimmed and pruned trees.
SHRIEVESHRIEVERSHUFFLERSHUNTERA person who moved rolling stock around the railway yards.
SHUTTLE MAKERA person who made the shuttles for the weaving mills.
SICKLEMANSIDESMANA person who assisted the churchwarden.
SILK DRESSERA person who prepared the silk for weaving.
SILK ENGINE TURNERA person who turned the wheel on the automatic silk weaving looms.
SILK MERCERA person who sold silk cloth and items made from silk.
SILK THROWER or THROWSTERA worker who twisted silk into thread or yarn.
SILK TWISTERSILKERA person who sewed the ends of the fabric to prevent the layers from separating.
SILVERSMITHA person who worked with silver.
SINKERA skilled person who contracted to sink new shafts for coal mining.
SISSOR or CISSORSIZER[1] A person who applied the size to cloth.
[2] A person who sorted objects according to size.
[3] A person who worked in a paper mill.
SKEPPERA person who made or sold wicker or straw beehives.
SKINKERA tapster in an ale house.
SKINNER[1] A dealer in hides,
[2] A mule driver.
SKIPMAKERA person who made the skips used in mining and quarrying for moving men or materials to the surface.
SKIPPERSLAPER or SLAPPERA person who worked in a pottery preparing the clay for the potter.
SLATERA roof tiler who used slate.
SLOP SELLERA person who sold baskets. A seller of ready made clothes.
SLUBBERA person who operated the machine used to prepare cotton for spinning.
SLUBBER DOFFERA person who removed the bobbins from the spindles in the mills.
SMALLWARE MAKERA person who made smallware e.g. tapes, braids etc.
SMELTER[1] A worker in a metal smelter,
[2] smelt fisherman.
SMIDDYSMITHA person who worked with any metal.
SMUGSMITHSNOBSCATSNUFFER MAKERA person who made candle snuffers.
SOAP BOILER (SOPER)SOJOURNERA person who was staying in a place or position temporary, i.e. passing through.
SOJOURNER CLOTHIERA travelling clothes salesman.
SOLICITORSORTORSOUTERSPALLIERA person who worked in a tin works performing the menial tasks.
SPERVITERSPICERA grocer or dealer in spices.
SPINNERA person who spins yarn or fabric.
SPINSTER[1] A woman who spins;
An unmarried woman.
SPLITTERA person who operated a splitting machine or a person who split things by hand e.g. stone, timber etc.
SPOONERA person who made spoons.
SPURRERSPURRIERSQUIRE(See ESQUIRE) [1] A practitioner of a profession,
[2] A magistrate or lawyer,
[3] A country gentleman especially the chief landed proprietor in a district,
[4] A knights attendant.
STABLERSTAINERA person who coloured glass or wood.
STALLMANA keeper of a market stall.
STAMPERA person who operated a stamping machine.
STAMPMANA worker of an ore crushing machine.
STATIONARY ENGINE DRIVERA person who operated a steam engine which was used for pumping water or sewage, or driving machinery in an industrial environment such as a factory, mill or mine.
STATIONARY ENGINEERA caretaker of machinery such as pumping engines or lifts/hoists. Also used later for a person who looked after the electrical and plumbing installations in an apartment block or office block. aka Janitor.
STATIONERA bookseller, seller of paper & writing implements.
STATISTSTAY MAKERSTEERSMANSTENTERERA person who operated the cloth finishing machine.
STEP BOYA person employed to help passengers to enter or leave the coach.
STEVEDOREA dock worker or labourer who unloads and loads ships' cargoes.
STICHERA person who does decorative stitching.
STOCKINGERA person who made stockings, or dealer in stockings. Usually, a dealer would be known as a Hosier.
STOKERA person who tends the fire of an engine boiler.
STONE PICKERA person employed to remove the stones from the farmers fields before planting.
STONE WORKERSA person who worked with stone e.g. masons, quarries etc.
STONEMANSTONEWARDENSTOWYERA person who stowed the nets away on fishing boats.
STRAVAIGERSTRAW JOINERA person who thatched roofs.
STRAW PLAITERA person who made straw braids for the hat industry.
STREAKERA person who prepared the body for burial.
STREET ORDERLY or BOYSTRETCHERA person stretched fabrics in the textile trade, sometimes called a tenter.
STRIKERA blacksmiths helper. The person who harpooned the whale.
STRINGERA person who made the strings for bows.
STRIPPERA person employed in the woollen trade to remove the rubbish from the carding machines.
STUFF GOWSMANSTUFF WEAVERA person who wove stuff, the coarse part of flax.
SUCKSMITHA person who made ploughshares.
SUMNERSUMPTERSURFACE MANA person who worked on the surface of a mine.
SUTLERA merchant or peddler in an army camp.
SWAILERA miller or dealer in grain. A corn miller.
SWAINSWEEPSWEEPER OUTA person employed in the mills to keep the floor clean.
SWELL MAKERA person who made shallow baskets.
SWINEYARD /SWINEHERDERSWORD CUTLER
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TABLERA boarding house operator.
TACKLERAn overlooker of power loom weavers.
TAILORA person who made or repaired clothes.
TAKER OFF or TAKER INA person (usually a child) employed to unhitch the coal tubs from the endless rope system.
TALLOW CHANDLERA person who made or sold candles.
TALLY CLERKA person who kept count of goods arriving or departing from warehouses, docks etc.
TALLYMAN or TALLYFELLOWA person who sold goods that were paid for in instalments.
TAN BARK STRIPPERA person who collected the bark that was used in the tanning process.
TANNERA person who tanned hides and skins to make leather.
TAPER WEAVERA person who made the wicks for candles.
TAPICER or TAPITERA person who wove worsted cloth.
TAPLEYOne who puts the tap in an ale cask.
TAPSTERA person employed to serve the beer in public houses, a barman.
TARRIERA person in charge of a pack of terriers used for hunting.
TASKERTASSELERA person who made tassels used in furnishings. A nobleman.
TAVERNERTAWERA person who made white leather.
TAWYERTEAMERTEAMER MANTEAMSTERA person in charge of a team of horses.
TEEMER[1] A person who emptied grain from the cart.
[2] A person who poured the molten steel into the moulds.
TENTERA person who stretched the cloth on a machine whilst it was drying. A person who looked after and maintained the machine used in the process. Also the term for a person who looked after something e.g. a door tenter or pony tenter in the coal mining trade.
TERRIERA person in charge of a pack of terriers used for hunting.
TEXTORTHACKERTHATCHERA person who covered roofs with straw or reeds.
THIRDBOROUGHTHRESHERA person who separated the grain from the husks and straw.
THROWSTERA person in the textile trade who twisted the strands of fibre together into yarn.
TICKNEY MAN or WOMANA person who sold earthenware from town to town.
TIDE GAUGERA person who monitored the state of the tide.
TIDE SURVEYORA person who monitored the state of the tide.
TIDE WAITERA customs inspector. See TIDESMAN.
TIDESMANA customs officer who watched the unloading of ships to ascertain the duty due.
TIEMAKERA person who made wooden railway ties.
TIGERA small groom or pageboy in livery.
TILERA person who put tiles in place either on the roof or floor.
TILLERTILLMANTILTMAKERA person who made canvas awnings or canopies.
TIMEKEEPERA person responsible for making sure things happened on time e.g. worker arriving or departing, trains, coaches, omnibuses, etc.
TIMES IRONERA servant responsible for ironing the daily newspaper.
TINCTORTINKERA travelling salesman of pots & pans etc. or travelling repairman
TINNERA person who worked in the tin mines or a tinsmith
TINSMITHA person who worked with tin.
TINTER or TEINTERAn artists who performs tinting.
TIPPERA person who put the metal tips on arrows, etc.
TIPPLERA person who kept an ale house.
TIPSTAFF[1] A court official.
[2] A policeman.
TIREWOMAN[1] A milliner
[2] A hairdresser.
[3] A female dresser, especially in the theatre.
TIXTORTOBACCO SPINNERTODHUNTERA person employed by the parish to hunt foxes.
TOE RAGA person who worked at the docks as a corn porter.
TOILINET MANUFACTURERA person who made toilinet (a kind of quilting).
TOLLERTOLLGATE KEEPERA person who worked at the toll gate to collect fees for use of the road.
TOLLIETOLLMANA person who collected tolls.
TONSORTOOL HELVERA person who made tool handles.
TOP SAWYERThe upper man in a saw pit.
TOPMANA sailor who works in the ship's rigging.
TOPSMANTOUCH HOLERA person who worked in the gun manufacturing industry.
TOW CARD MAKERA person who made tow cards, used in the textile industry.
TOWN CHABERLAINA person who looked after the towns affairs.
TOWN CRIERA person who made public announcements in the streets.
TOWN HUSBANDA person employed by the parish to collect the money from the fathers of illegitimate children for their upkeep.
TOWNSWAITERTOYMAN or TOY DEALERA person who sold children’s toys.
TOZERA person who worked in the wool mills employed to tose or tease the cloth.
TRADESMANA shopkeeper or skilled craftsman.
TRAMMERA young person who worked in the mines.
TRAMPLERTRANQUETERTRANTERTRAPPERA young person employed in the mines to open and shut the doors for the miners.
TRAVERSA collector of fees at a toll bridge.
TREEN MAKERA person who made domestic articles from wood.
TREENAIL MAKERA person who made the long wooden pins used in shipbuilding.
TRENCHERMAKERA person who made wooden boards or platters for serving food from or cutting and slicing food on.
TRENCHERMANTREPANGERA person who used a circular saw to cut timber.
TRIMMERA person who trims a ship by re-arranging its cargo.
TROACHERTROLLEY CARTERA person who operated the tubs in the mines.
TRONERA weighing official at the markets.
TROUCHMAN or TRUCHMANTROVERTRUCHMANTRUGGERA person who made long shallow baskets.
TRUSSERA person who bundled and tied hay, aka Hay Baler.
TUBBERA person who made tubs and barrels, i.e. a cooper.
TUBEDRAWERTUBMAN[1] A person who worked in the mines filling the tubs.
[2] A court official.
[3] An English barrister
TUCKERA cleaner of cloth goods. See Fuller.
TUCKER INA maid who attended the bedroom and "tucked in the bedclothes".
TUNISTA person who tuned musical instruments.
TURNER[1] A lathe operator.
[2] A gymnast, particularly street performers or beggars.
TURNING BOYA person who assisted the weaver by turning the bar on the loom.
TURNKEYA prison warder or jail keeper.
TURNPIKE KEEPERTURNSPITA person who operated the spit handle.
TWEENIE or TWEENYA maid who worked "between the stairs" she assisted the cooks and the housemaids.
TWIST HANDA person who operated a lace machine.
TWISTER or TWISTERERA person who operated the machine used for twisting yarns and threads together.
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ULNAGERA person appointed to examine the quality of woollen goods to be sold.
UPHOLDER[1] A person who made quilts or mattresses.
[2] A person who assisted the auctioneer.
UPHOLSTERERA person who finished furniture by putting on the padding and cloth.
UPRIGHT WORKER
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VALETA male servant that attended a nobleman or gentleman.
VALUATORA person who valued objects.
VASSALA servant of the lowest order.
VATMAN[1] A person employed in the paper making industry to put the paper pulp into the moulds.
[2] A person who worked with vats e.g. in beer and wine making.
VENATOR (VENUR)VERDERERAn official in charge of the royal forest.
VERGE MAKERA person who made the spindles used in clocks and watches.
VERGERA person who worked with the priest in the running the church.
VERRIERVESTMENT MAKERA person who made the gowns worn by priests.
VICTUALERVIEWERA person who worked at the mines in a managerial capacity.
VILLEINA person who paid dues to the lord of the manor in return for use of the land.
VINTAGERA grape farmer, wine maker.
VINTNERVIRGINAL PLAYERA person who played a musical instrument similar to a harpsichord.
VULCAN
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WABSTERWAGGONERA person who drove a wagon, a carrier.
WAILERA person employed in the mines to remove the impurities from the coal.
WAINWRIGHTA person who built or repaired wagons.
WAITMAN or WAKEMANWALKERA cloth worker who cleaned and thickened the cloth by wetting it then walking over it.
WALLERA person who built walls either with bricks or dry stone, also a person who worked making coarse salt.
WANTCATCHERA person employed to catch moles.
WANTERWARDERA person in charge of prisoners.
WAREHOUSEMANA person in charge of a warehouse or one employed in a warehouse.
WARPERA person who set the warp thread on the looms, also a person employed to move boats by hauling on the warps (the ropes attached to the boats)
WARRENERA person in charge of a portion of land used for breeding rabbits and other small game.
WASHMANWASTEMANA person employed in the mines to check the old workings for gas and maintaining them in good order. A person employed to remove waste.
WATCH FINISHERA person employed to assemble watches and clocks.
WATCHMANA town official who guarded the streets at night.
WATER BAILIFFAn official in charge of the fishing rights on a stretch of water. A river policeman or in coastal towns a customs official.
WATER CARRIERA person who carted and sold fresh water.
WATER GILDERA person who trapped water fowl.
WATER LEADER or LEDER or LODERA person who transported and sold fresh drinking water.
WATERMANA person who worked with or on boats usually on rivers.
WATTLE HURDLE MAKERA person who made a type of fence from wattle to keep the sheep in.
WAULKMILLERWAVERWAY MANWAY-MAKERA person employed to make roads.
WEATHERSPYWEBBERWEBSTERA weaver operating weaving looms (originally a female weaver).
WEEDERA person employed to remove the weeds from the gardens of the rich.
WEIGHERA person employed on the docks to weigh the cargo as it was unloaded.
WELL SINKERWELL WRIGHTA person who made the winding equipment used to raise the bucket in the well.
WELLMASTERA person in charge of the local well with the responsibility of ensuring clean water for the village.
WET GLOVERA person who made leather gloves.
WET NURSEA woman employed to suckle the child of another (common practice with the rich).
WETTER[1] A person employed to dampen paper during the printing process.
[2] A person in the glass industry who detached the glass by wetting.
WHACKERA horse or oxen team driver.
WHARFINGERA person who owned or was in charge of a wharf.
WHEELERA wheel maker, a person in the textile industry that attended to the spinning wheel, a person who led the pit ponies that pulled the tubs underground in the mines.
WHEELWRIGHTA maker or repairer of wagon wheels
WHEERYMANA person in charge of a wheery, a small light rowing boat.
WHIGA horse driver (Scottish term).
WHIPCORD MAKERWHIPMAKERWHIPPERINA person who managed the hounds in a hunt.
WHIT COOPERA person who made barrels etc from tin.
WHITE LIMERA person who plastered walls using lime and water plaster.
WHITE SMITHWHITEARA person who cleaned hides.
WHITENERA person who bleached cloth.
WHITENING ROLL MAKERA person who made the whitening used in whitening walls of cottages.
WHITESMITHWHITESTERA person who bleached cloth.
WHITEWINGWHITSTERWHITSTERA person who bleached cloth.
WHITTAWER[1] A person who made saddles and harnesses.
[2] A preparer of white leather.
WILLEYER A person who throws handfulls of wool or hair, hemp or flax tow, etc., on to brattice or other feed apparatus of willeying machine, which separates fibres, and breaks up their natural matted state, and shakes out dirt and foreign matter therefrom, in preparation for carding; sometimes also blends materials together in process of willeying.
WILLOW PLAITER or WEAVERA person who made baskets, etc.
WINDERIn the textile industry, a person who transferred the yarn from bobbins onto cheeses or into balls ready for weaving. In the mines a person who operated the pulley or winch.
WINDSTERWIRE DRAWERA person who made wire from metal by drawing the metal through various size holes in a template.
WOODBREAKERA person who made wooden water casks.
WOODRANGERA person in charge of the forest or woods.
WOODREEVEA person in charge of the forest or woods.
WOODWARDA person in charge of the forest or woods.
WOOL DRIVERA person who brought the wool to market.
WOOL FACTORWOOL GROWERWOOL MANA person who sorted the wool into different grades.
WOOL STAPLERA person who sorted the wool into different grades.
WOOL WINDERA person who made up balls of wool for selling.
WOOLCOMBERA person employed in the woollen mills to operate the machines that separate the fibres ready for spinning.
WOOLEN BILLY PIECERA person employed in the woollen mills to piece together the broken yarns.
WOOLSORTERA person who sorted the wool into different grades.
WOOLSTED MANFrom worsted man, a seller of woollen cloth.
WORSTED MANUFACTURER A person who made worsted cloth.
WORSTED SHEARMANA person who made worsted cloth.
WRIGHTA skilled worker, builder or repairer in various trades.
WRITERA person employed to write. A scribe. A clerk etc.
WYRTHA
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XYLOGRAPHERA person who used and made wooden blocks used in printing illustrations.
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YARDMAN[1] A rail road yard worker,
[2] A farm worker.
YATMANYEARMANA person contracted to work for a year.
YEOMAN[1] A freeholder, the next class down from gentry.
[2] An assistant to an official.
[3] A ships officer in charge of stores.
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ZINCOGRAPHERA designer who etched in relief a pattern on zinc plates used for printing.
ZITHERISTA player of a simple, flat many-stringed instrument.
ZOETROPE MAKERA craftsman who made zoetropes, an optical toy in the form of a cylinder with a series of pictures painted on the inner surface which gave the impression of continuous motion when viewed through slits in the rotating cylinder.
ZOOGRAPHERA person who describes and classifies animals.
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Copyright © 1996-2003 John Hitchcock. All rights reserved.
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