19th Century Occupations or job descriptions from Able Seaman to Axle Tree Maker.
Able Seaman | A seaman who reached a standard of skill above that of Ordinary Seaman. |
Academic | A scholarly person, of a university, etc. |
Academician | A member of an academy, especially of the Royal Academy of Arts. |
Acater, or Achateur | supplied food provisions, e.g. a ships chandler |
Accipitrary | falconer |
Accomptant | accountant |
Accoucheur | A man who assisted women in childbirth – Midwife |
Accoucheuse | A Woman who assisted women in childbirth – Midwife |
Accountant | A person involved in maintenance and auditing of accounts and financial matters |
Accountant’s Clerk | A person who assisted an accountant, and did most of the basic accountancy work such as filing and preparing documents. |
Accoutre | supplier of military clothing and accessories |
Accoutrement Maker | supplier of military clothing and accessories |
Ackerman/Acreman | a ploughman, or an oxherder |
Actor | Someone who performs on the stage in a Theatre, or even on the street (Male) |
Actress | Someone who performs on the stage in a Theatre, or even on the street (Female) |
Actuary | One who calculates insurance risks, and kept public accounts of business, |
Administrator | Someone who directed the affairs of another, or one who settles the estate of a deceased person who died intestate. |
Administratrix | A female Administrator |
Adventurer | A person who seeks adventures; a mercenary soldier; one who lives by his wits. |
Advertisement Conveyancer | Sandwich board man |
Advocate | A Prosecutor in a court of law in Scotland, also a Solicitor, or Lawyer. |
Advocate Deputy | A Scottish law officer who could act as public prosecutor. |
Advowee | One who has an Advowson, normally a nobleman, who had the right to presentation to a vacant benefice, in English ecclesiastical law. |
Aeronaut | A balloonist or a trapeze artist in the circus or music halls |
Affeeror | (Assessor) responsible for ensuring that those fined by a Manor Court, actually paid their fines |
Agent, broker, factor | One who acts or transacts business for another |
Agister | official of the Royal Forests |
Agricultural Labourer | A farm servant, farm worker, shepherd, etc |
Agriculturist | A person involved with land cultivation or animal husbandry. |
Alabasterer | worked with alabaster |
Alblastere | crossbow man |
Alchemist | A medieval chemist who claimed to be able to turn base metals into gold. |
Alderman | senior councillor one position down from Mayor in the local council |
Ale Connor/Founder | official who tested quality and measure of ale served in public houses |
Ale Draper | seller of ale |
Ale Taster | tested ale and beer for quality |
Ale Tunner | brewery worker who fills ale casks (tuns) with ale |
Ale Wife | woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern |
All Spice | grocer |
Almoner | Giver of Charity to the needy – one who gave out alms to the poor on behalf of the parish. Also the title of a hospital manager, or one in charge of an Almshouse. |
Almsman | one who received alms or charity |
Alnager | (Aulnager)A town official who examined the quality of woollen goods and stamped them with a seal of approval. |
Amanuensis | A person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts – A Secretary or Stenographer. |
Amber & Jet Cutter | A person who cut and polished amber for jewelry |
Amber Cutter | A person who cuts amber |
Ambler | Officer of the Royal Stable who broke in horses |
Amen Man | Parish clerk |
Anchor Smith | A person who made anchors |
Anchoress | A female hermit or religious recluse |
Anchorite | A male hermit or religious recluse |
Angle Iron Smith | A person who made angle iron |
Anilepman | A smallholder, or tenant of the manor |
Ankle Beater | A young person who helped to drive the cattle to market |
Annatto Maker | Worked in the manufacture of dyes for paint or printing |
Annuitant | A person who received an annual income not from working e.g. a pensioner. |
Antigropelos Maker | A person who made waterproof leggings |
Anvil Smith | One who made anvils and hammers for blacksmiths |
Apiarian | Beekeeper |
Apothecary (Apotheecary) | Prepared and medicines and drugs; pharmacist |
Apparitor | Official who summoned witnesses in the ecclesiastical courts |
Appraiser | (Broker) A person who appraised the value of goods. |
Apprentice | One who was bound to a skilled worker for a specified time to learn a trade – Apprenticeship |
Aproneer | A shopkeeper |
Apronman | Mechanic |
Aquarius | (Ewar) Waterman |
Aquavita Seller | A person who sold alcohol |
Arbiter | A person who judged disputes. |
Archer | A person skilled in using a bow and arrow. |
Archiator | Physician |
Archil Maker | Made a violet dye from lichens, used in the textile industry |
Architect | A person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. |
Archivist | A person who kept records of historical value. |
Arkwright | Skilled craftsman who produced arks; wooden chests or coffers |
Armiger | Squire who carried the armour of a knight, or one entitled to bear heraldic arms. |
Armourer | Made suits of armour or plates of armour for buildings or ships etc. |
Articled Clerk | An apprentice in the accountancy or legal professions |
Articling Student | See Articled Clerk. |
Artificer | A soldier mechanic who does repairs |
Artificer | Skilled or artistic worker or craftsman |
Artificial Florist | Made and sold artificial flowers |
Artificial Florist’s Assistant | Assistant to an Artificial Florist |
Artificial Flower Hand | See Artificial Florist. |
Artificial Flower Maker | See Artificial Florist |
Artificial Flowerist | See Artificial Florist. |
Artificial Fruit Maker | Someone who made artificial fruit. |
Artificial Limb Maker | Someone who made artificial limbs. |
Artisan | A skilled tradesman. |
Artist | Someone engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art; painting, sculpting etc. |
Artist in Fireworks | A person who prepared fireworks displays. |
Artists Mount Cutter | Someone who assisted an artist by cutting the mounting board for a picture frame. |
Artizan | Obsolete spelling of Artisan. |
Artizan’s Labourer | Someone who worked for an Artisan or Artizan, carrying out the menial tasks. |
Ashman | Dustman, or Refuse Collector. Also someone who cleans the ashes from a boiler. |
Ashmanshipman | A Sailor who cleaned the ashes from a ships boiler |
Asphalter | Someone who worked on the roads, spreading the asphalt to create or repair the road surface. |
Assay Master | One who determined the amount of gold or silver to go into coins to be minted |
Assayer | One who determined the proportions of metal in ore. |
Assessor | (Affeeror)An official in the manorial courts who assessed monetary penalties (fines). They also collected taxes and dues |
Assistant | Assisted someone else in their trade, often a master |
Assurance Agent | Sells life assurance policies |
Asylum Attendant | Someone who worked in an Asylum, looking after the incumbents. |
Attendant on Sick | Nurse |
Auctioneer | Someone who conducts an auction; He or she announces the lots, and controls the bidding. |
Aulnager | (Alnager)A town official who examined the quality of woollen goods and stamped them with a seal of approval. |
Auger Maker | Made carpenters augers, used for boring holes in wood |
Aurifaber | Goldsmith |
Avenator | (Plantifene) A hay and forage merchant. |
Avowry | The Lord of the Manor |
Axle Tree Maker / Turner | Made axles for coaches and wagons |