@2009 - Sue Ashby Updated: 08/18/2011
Some definitions of those funny, old words, in ancient times, some of which became surnames.
| Accomptant | Accountant |
| Almoner | Giver of charity to the needy |
| Amanuensis | Secretary or Stenographer |
| Artificer | A soldier mechanic who makes repairs |
| Bailie | Bailiff - keeper of the jail |
| Baxter | Baker |
| Bluestocking | Female writer-supporter of feminist causes |
| Boniface | Keeper of an Inn |
| Brazier | Worker with Brass |
| Brewster | Beer Maker |
| Brightsmith | Metal Worker |
| Burgermaster | Mayor |
| Caulker | Caulks bricks, etc. |
| Chaisemaker | Carriage Maker |
| Chandler | Candle Maker, also, Dealer or Trade, Retailer of Groceries |
| Chiffonnier | Wig Maker |
| Clark | Clerk |
| Clerk | Clergyman, Cleric |
| Clicker | Servant of a Salesman, who stood at the door to invite customers in; One who received matter in the galley from compositors and arranged it in due form, ready for printing; One who makes eyelet holes in boots, using a machine which clicked. |
| Cohen | Priest - Judiac/Hebrew |
| Collier | Coal Miner |
| Colporter | Peddler of Books |
| Cooper | One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves or hoops, as casks, barrels, tubs, etc. |
| Cordwainer | Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova/Cordoba, Spain |
| Costermonger | Peddler of fruits and vegetables |
| Crocker | Potter |
| Crowner | Coroner |
| Currier | One who dresses the coat of a horse with a curry comb; 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 witching stick |
| Draper | Dealer in Dry Goods |
| Drayman | One who drives a long strong cart with fixed sides for heavey loads |
| Dresser | Surgeon's assistant in a hospital |
| Drover | One who drives cattle, sheep, etc. to market; a dealer in cattle |
| Duffer | Peddler |
| Factor | Agent; commission merchant; one who acts or transacts business for another; Scottish steward or keeper of estate |
| Farrier | A Blacksmith who shoes horses |
| Faulkner | Falconer, works with Falcons |
| Fell Monger | One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making |
| Fletcher | One who makes 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 | Jailer; Keeper of the jail |
| Glazier | Window Glassman |
| Hacker | Maker of Hoes |
| Hatcheler | One who combed out carded flax |
| Haymonger | Dealer in Hay |
| Hayward | Keeper of fences |
| Higgler | Itinerant Peddler |
| Hillier | Roof tiler |
| Hind | Farm Laborer |
| Holster | Groom who took care of horses, often at an Inn |
| Hooker | Reaper of grain who used a large wooden hook |
| Hooper | One who made hoops for casks or barrels |
| Huckster | Sells small wares |
| Husbandman | A farmer who cultivates land |
| Jagger | Fish Peddler |
| Journeyman | One who served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft not bound by his master, but hired by day. |
| Joyner/Joiner | A skilled Carpenter |
| Keeler | Bargeman |
| Kempster | Wool Comber |
| Lardener | Keeper of the cupboard |
| Lavender | Washer woman |
| Lederer | Leather maker |
| Leech | Physician |
| Longshoreman | Stevedore |
| Lormer | Maker of horse gear |
| Malender | Farmer |
| Maltster | Brewer |
| Manciple | A steward |
| Mason | Bricklayer |
| Mintmaster | One who issues local currency |
| Monger | Seller of goods (fish, ale) |
| Muleskinner | Teamster |
| Neatherder | Herds cows |
| Ordinary Keeper | Innkeeper with fixed prices |
| Patternmaker | A maker of clod shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole with a pattern cut into the end. |
| Peregrinator | Itinerant wandere |
| 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 |
| 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 | Physician |
| Sawyer | One who saws: carpenter |
| Schumacker | Shoemaker |
| Scribbler | A minor or worthless author |
| Scrivener | Professional or public copyist or writer; a notary public |
| Scrutiner | Election judge |
| Shrieve | Sheriff |
| Slater | Roofer |
| Slopseller | Seller of ready made clothes in a slop shop |
| Snobscat/Snob | One who repairs shoes |
| Sorter | Tailor |
| Spinster | A woman who spins or an unmarried woman |
| Spurrier | One who makes spurs |
| Squire | Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of the peace |
| Stuff Gown | Junior Barrister |
| Stuff | Junior Barrister |
| Gownsman | Officer on a merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and 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 a living |
| Thatcher | Roofer |
| Tide Waiter | Customs Inspector |
| Tinker | Itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman |
| Tipstaff | Policeman |
| Travers | Toll Bridge Collector |
| Tucker | Cleaner of cloth goods |
| Turner | One who turns wood on lathe into spindles |
| Victualer | A tavern keeper or one who provides and army, navy or ship with supplies |
| Vulcan | Blacksmith |
| Wagoner | Teamster, employed by company |
| Wainwright | Wagon maker |
| Waiter | Customs Officer or tide waiter; one who waited on the tide to collect duty on good brought in. |
| Waterman | Boatman who plies for hire |
| Webster | Operator of looms |
| Wharfinger | Owner of a wharf |
| Wheelwright | One who makes or repairs wheels; wheeled carriages, etc. Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work |
| Whitesmith | Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work |
| Whitewing | Street Sweeper |
| Whitster | Bleacher of cloth |
| Wright | Worker; especially a construction worker |
| Yeoman | Farmer who owns his own land |