Old Occupations
compiled by Dan Burrows
of Orange County NY Genealogical Society
When viewing census's I came across a few occupations that I never heard of before.
Perhaps this list will help others in their quest.
Accomptant - Accountant
Almoner- Giver of charity to the needy
Amanuensis- Secretary or Stenographer
Artifcer- A soldier mechanic who does repairs
Bailie- Bailiff
Baxter- Baker
Bluestocking- Female writer
Boniface- Keeper of an Inn
Brazier- One who works with brass
Brewster- Beer manufacturer
Brightsmith- Metal Worker
Burgonmaster- Mayor
Caulker- One who filled up cracks (in ships or windows or seams to make them watertight)
Chaisemaker- Carriage maker
Chandler- Dealer or trader; one who makes and sells candles; retailer of groceries, ship supplier
Chiffonnier- Wig maker
Clark- Clerk
Clerk- Clergyman, cleric
Clicker- The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers; one who received the matter in the galley from the compositors and arranged it in due form ready for printing ; one who makes eyelet holes in boots using a machine which clicked.
Cohen- Priest
Collier- Coal miner
Colporteur- Peddler of books
Cooper- One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves and hoops, such as casks, barrels or tubs
Cordwainer- Shoemaker,originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova / Cordoba in Spain
Costermonger- Peddler of fruits and vegetables
Crocker- Potter
Crowner- Coroner
Currier- One who dresses the coat of a horse with a currycomb; one who tanned leather by incorporating oil or grease
Docker- Stevedore, dock worker who loads and unloads cargo
Dowser- One who finds water using a rod or withching stick
Draper- A dealer in dry goods
Drayman- One who drives a long strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavy loads
Dresser- A surgeon's assistant in a hospital
Drover- One who drives cattles, sheep to market; a dealer in cattle
Duffer- Peddler
Factor- Agent, commission merchant ; one who acts or transacts business for another; Scottish steward or bailiff of an estate
Farrier- A blacksmith, one who shoes horses
Faulkner- Falconer
Fellmonger- One who removes hair or wool from hides in preperation of leather making
Fletcher- One who made bows and arrows
Fuller- One who fulls cloth; one who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth by moistening, heating, and pressing ; one who cleans and finishes cloth
Gaoler- A keeper of the goal, a jailer
Glazier- Window glassman
Hacker- Maker of hoes
Hatcheler- One who combed out or carded flax
Haymonger- Dealer in hay
Hayward- Keeper of fences
Higgler- Itinerant peddler
Hillier- Roof tiler
Hind- A farm laborer
Holster- A groom who took care of horses, often at an Inn
Hooker- Reaper
Hooper- One who made hoops for casks and barrels
Huckster- Sell small wares
Husbandman- A farmer who cultivated the land
Jagger- Fish peddler
Journeyman- One who had served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft, not bound to serve a master,but hired by the day
Joyner / Joiner- A skilled carpenter
Keeler- Bargeman
Kemptser- Wool comber
Lardner- Keeper of the cupboard
Lavender- Washer woman
Lederer- Leather maker
Leech- Physcian
Longshoreman- Stevedore
Lormer- Maker of horse gear
Malender- Farmer
Malster- Brewer
Manciple- A steward
Mason- Bricklayer
Mintmaster- One who issued local currency
Monger- Seller of goods
Muleskinner- Teamster
Neatherder- Herds cows
Ordinary Keeper- Innkeeper with fixed prices
Pattern Maker- A maker of clog shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole with a pattern cut into the end
Peregrinator- Itinerant wanderer
Peruker- A wig maker
Pettifogger- (early a man who could read and write and helped persons fill out papers etc.) later- A Shyster lawyer
Pigman- Crockery dealer
Plumber- One who applied sheet lead for roofing and set lead frames for plain or stained windows.
Porter- Door keeper
Puddler- Wrought Iron worker
Quarrier- Quary worker
Rigger- Hoist tackle worker
Ripper- Seller of fish
Roper- Maker of ropes or nets
Saddler- One who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other furnishings for horses
Sawbones- Physcian
Sawyer- One who saws, carpenter
Schumacker- Shoemaker
Scribler- A minor or worthless author
Scrivener- Professional or public copyist or writer ; notary republic
Scrutiner- Election judge
Shrieve- Sheriff Slater- Roofer
Slopseller- Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop shop
Snobscat / Snob- One who repaired shoes
Sorter- Tailor
Spinster- A woman who spins or an unmarried woman
Spurrer- Maker of spurs
Squire- Country gentlemen ; farm owner; justice of the peace
Stuff Gown or Stuff Gownsman- Junior barrister
Supercargo- Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship
Tanner- One who tans ( cures ) animal hides into leather
Tapley- One who puts the tap in an ale cask
Tasker- Reaper
Teamster- One who drives a team for hauling
Thatcher- Roofer
Tide waiter- Customs inspector
Tinker- An itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman
Tipstaff- Policeman
Travers- Toll bridge collector
Tucker- Cleaner of cloth goods
Turner- A person who turns wood on a lathe into spindles
Victualer- A tavern keeper, or one who provides an army, navy, or ship with food
Vulcan- Blacksmith
Wagoner- Teamster not for hire
Wainwright- Wagon maker
Waiter- Customs officer or tide waiter; one who waited on the tide to collect duty on goods brought in
Waterman- Boatman who plies for hire
Webster- Operator of looms
Wharfinger-Owner of a wharf
Wheelwright- One who made or repaired wheels; wheeled carriages, etc
Whitesmith- Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work
Whitewing- Street sweeper
Whister- Bleach of cloth
Wright- Workmen, especially a construction worker
Yeoman- Farmer who owns his own land
Thankyou Dan, for sharing your work with others.