- Accomptant
- Accountant
- Almoner
- Giver of charity to the needy
- Amanuensis
- Secretary or stenographer
- Artificer
- A Soldier mechanic who does repairs
- Bailie
- Bailiff
- Baxter
- Baker
- Bluestocking
- Female writer
- Boniface
- Keeper of an Inn
- Brazier
- One who works with brass
- Brewster
- Beer manufacturer
- Brightsmith
- Metal worker
- Burgonmaster
- Mayer
- Caulker
- One who filled up cracks in ships or windows
- Chaisemaker
- Carriage maker
- Chandler
- Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries
- Chiffonnier
- Wig maker
- Clark
- Clerk
- Clerk
- Clergyman, cleric
- Clicker
- The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers
- Cohen
- Priest
- Collier
- Coal miner
- Colporteur
- Peddler of Books
- Cooper
- One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves & hoops, such as casks, barrels, tubs, etc.
- Cordwainer
- Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordoval/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 oil/grease
- Docker
- Stevedore, dock worker who loads and unloads cargo
- Dowser
- One who finds water using a rod or witching stick
- Draper
- A dealer in dry goods
- Drayman
- One who drives a long, strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavy load
- Dresser
- A Surgeon’s assistant in a hospital
- Drover
- One who drives cattle or sheep
- Duffer
- Peddler/Factor agent, commission merchant
- Farrier
- A blacksmith, one who shoes horses
- Faulkner
- Falconer
- Fell monger
- One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making
- Fletcher
- One who made bows and arrows
- Fuller
- One who fulls cloth’ one who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth
- 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
- Sells small wares
- Husbandman
- A farmer who cultivated the land
- Jagger
- Fish peddler
- Journeyman
- One who had served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft, not bound to serve a master.
- Johner/Joiner
- A skilled carpenter
- Keeler
- Bargeman
- Kempster
- Wool comber
- Lardner
- Keeper of the cupboard
- Lavender
- Washer woman
- Lederer
- Leather maker
- Leech
- Physician
- Longshoreman
- Stevedore
- Lormer
- Maker of horse gear
- Malender
- Farmer
- Malster
- Brewer
- Manciple
- A Steward
- Mason
- Bricklayer
- Mintmaster
- One who issued local currency
- Monger
- Seller of goods (ale, fish)
- Muleskinner
- Teamster
- Neatherder
- Herds cows
- Ordinary Keeper
- Innkeeper with fixed prices
- Pattern Maker
- A maker of clog shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole with a pattern cut into end
- Peregrinator
- Itinerant wanderer
- Peruker
- A wig maker
- Pettifogger
- A shyster lawyer
- Pigman
- Crockery dealer
- Plumber
- One who applied sheet lead for roofing and set lead frames for plain or stained glass windows.
- Porter
- Door keeper
- Puddler
- Wrought Iron worker
- Quarrier
- Quarry worker (Rock quarry, etc.)
- Rigger
- Hoist tackle worker
- Ripper
- Seller of fish
- Roper
- Maker of rope or nets
- Saddler
- One who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other furnishings for horses.
- Sawbones
- Physicians
- Sawyer
- One who saws; carpenter; (runs a saw mill)
- Schumacker
- Shoemaker
- Scribler
- A minor or worthless author
- Scrivener
- Professional or public copyist or writer; notary Public
- Scrutiner
- Election Judge
- Shrieve
- Sheriff
- Slater
- Roofer
- Slopseller
- Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop shop
- Snobscat/Snob
- One who repaired shoes
- Sorter
- Tailor
- Spinster
- A woman who spins or an unmarried woman
- Spurrier
- Maker of spurs
- Squire
- Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of peace
- Stuff gown
- Junior barrister
- Stuff Gownsman
- Junior barrister
- Supercargo
- Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and commercial concerns of 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 water
- Customs inspector
- Tinker
- An Itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman (watch tinker: one who repairs watches)
- Tipstaff
- Policeman
- Travers
- Toll bridge collection
- Tucker
- Cleaner of cloth goods
- Turner
- A person who turns wood on a lathe into spindles
- Victualer
- Tavern keeper, or one who provides food for military ship
- 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
- Whitesmith
- Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work
- Whitewing
- Street Sweeper
- Whitster
- Bleach of Cloth
- Wright
- Workman, especially a construction worker
- Yeoman
- Farmer who owns his own land
Old Names of Occupations and Their Meanings
Dan Burrows provides a list of old occupation names and their meanings. This list of terms is helpful for understanding old books and wills.