Historical Trades (Occupations) (1 Viewer)

[Kevin_Spradley]

Hello all,
I am looking for a good reference for list of historical occupations (trades, guilds, etc). I have done some quick searching on the web but have found nothing to my liking.

For Example:
Milliner - Hat maker (mainly made female clothing)
Haberdasher - Hats (mainly made male clothing)
Chandler - candle maker
Fletcher - arrow maker


etc.

I would like a listing of these trades just for learning them. I currently participate in "Studio One Trivia" (people in atlanta know what i am talking about) and I would like to expand my knowledge on this topic. Any help is appreciated.

 

[CharlesD]

cooper - barrel maker

 

[Eric_E]

How about:http://www.cpcug.org/user/jlacombe/terms.html

Although if you googled it, you may have already seen that one.

 

[Shawn Solar]

Blacksmith count? makes metal stuff

 

[John Watson]

Silvermsiths
Goldsmiths
Tunesmiths

Cartwrights? Wheelwrights?

Bakers and Millers

Innkeepers

Privateers

Knights-errant, Damsels

Grave-robbers

Neeer-do-wells, ruffians and miscreants

Upstairs and Downstairs maids

Game-keepers

Scribes

Inquisitors

DeeJays

Brewers

Wizards, Alchemists

Apothecaries

Jesters, Fools

Cabinboys

Bell ringers

Telegraphers

Lamplighters

Burlesque Dancers

Ships Chandlers (I think they specialized in nautical supplies, don't know if candles was a major item of stock)

 

[Kirk Gunn]

Normans ????? (middle-aged beer-swizzling junkies from the '80s)

NORM !!!!! (insert "Norm to Sammy" joke here...)






Sorry to thread fart...

 

[Grant B]

I checked my family history and here are a couple more.
Some of my relatives in the 1600s were classified as husbandman. HUSBANDMAN a person who operates a farm
Another in the 1600s was called a Cordwainer - shoe repair I believe.
Minuteman - Soldier of the revolutionary war
1939 profession - dictaphone repairman
Hope those might help

 

[Henry Gale]

Rounder...Gadabout...Profligate

 

[John Watson]

Barker (as in carnie, not tanner)

On the long list linked by Eric, its interesting to me to see the word "wright" as an appendage to so many trades.

 

[Joey Skinner]

Don't forget skinner!

 

[Kevin_Spradley]

Thanks all, that was exactly what I was looking for.

I had not seen that listing, it is perfect. I don't think I used the proper search parameters when I googled it. or didn't delve deep enough into the sites it responded with.

Thanks again

 

[Kevin_Spradley]

Almost forgot what a co-worker mentioned to me,

if last names represent what people's occupation was, then what did John Hancock do?

I'm not sure if I have all of the words correct in the quote, but I do believe it is from one of the Lampoon's Vacation movies. Please correct me as desired.

 

[Bill Slack]

Wainwright - Wagon building/repair.

 

[andrew markworthy]

A few more for you:

Postilion

Coppersmith

Apothecary

Surgeon-Barber

Abigail (a very junior maid; why this has caught on as a girl's name is beyond me)

Skivvy

Maids: e.g. housemaid, parlour maid, kitchen maid, lady's maid

Butler (and under butler)

Valet

Haberdasher

Crossing sweeper (would sweep the street clear of animal excrement, etc, for people crossing the street)

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Barry Pederson for Cam Neely and Glenn Wesley who in turn was traded for the draft pick that brought Sergei Samsonov . . . oops, wrong kind of trade:b

 

[Jim_F]

Strumpet.

 

[John Watson]

Harlot

 

[MikeH1]

Bricklayers. The Bricklaying Guilds of centuries ago are the forerunners of today's unions.

 

[John Watson]

Featherbedders

Another of the old unions

 

[Eric_E]

Kevin: The quote is from Repossessed. Here's how IMDB lists that exchange:

Freda: What does the name 'Aglet' mean anyway?
Braydon: Well a long time ago 'Aglet' meant 'He who puts those tiny little plastic things on shoelaces' you see a long time a go a man's name was his profession.
Freda: Oh so a man named Fred Carpenter would build houses and John Baker would make bread.
Braydon: Exactly.
Ned: So what did John Hancock do?