I seem to be a big fan (and occasional writer) of interesting and silly lists. Awhile ago I published a list of surnames that are verbs, which was compiled by my great friend Brian and some friends. Recently my mother revealed that she keeps a few lists as well, and she offered up this one for my blog, with these comments:
I collect lists. Not many; just a few. One of my lists is English surnames that identify an ancestor’s profession (Farmer and Carpenter for example). To date I have 80 some. Here they are:
- Archer
- Arrowsmith
- Baker
- Barber
- Baxter
- Bond
- Bowman, Bowyer
- Brewer
- Brewster
- Butcher
- Butler
- Carpenter
- Carter
- Carver
- Cartwright
- Chamberlain, Chambers
- Chapman
- Cheeseman
- Clark, Clarke
- Collier
- Cook
- Cooper
- Crocker
- Cutter
- Dempster
- Driver
- Dyer
- Falconer (Faulkner)
- Farmer
- Farrier
- Fisher (Fischer)
- Fletcher
- Fowler
- Fuller
- Gardener, Gardiner, Gardner
- Joyner, Joiner
- Harper
- Hawker
- Hayward
- Hooper
- Horner
- Hunter
- Knight
- Mason
- Merchant
- Miller
- Miner
- Nurse
- Painter, Paynter
- Piper
- Planter
- Plowright
- Porter
- Potter
- Ranger?
- Seaman
- Sawyer
- Singer
- Shaver
- Shearer
- Shepherd, Sheppard
- Shoemaker
- Skinner
- Slater
- Smith, Smyth, Smythe
- Spencer (dispenser)
- Spicer
- Spinner
- Spooner
- Stringer
- Tanner
- Taylor
- Thatcher
- Tinker
- Trapper
- Turner
- Wainwright
- Weaver
- Wheelwright, Wheeler
- Woodman
- Wright
There are also clergy surnames like Bishop and Priest, and nobility/honorific surnames like Duke and Lord, but those are shorter lists.
If you can think of any others for her to add, do comment!
See my mom’s blog for other cool things that are not lists at all.
From Wendy James, lefton my blog:
“For Margaret and Chloe, I have found people with the last names: Cobbler Catcher Trainer Mender Batter Walker Sargent Coachman Reader Keeper Goldsmith Goldman Tinman Silverman Booker Tailor Bookbinder”
And the list expands!
Is Bender a profession or a weekend activity? How about Hussey?
How about Forrester?
how about “chiseler”?
A friend of mine has the last name “Mills” which apparently was given to the servant of the Miller. So any profession last name that ends in “s”, meant someone who was a servant/slave, at least in England. I also have an old Judges Guild RPG book called “A Treasury of Archaic Names” with lists of old profession names. “Benbow” being an Archer for example. Chandler is a candlemaker. Millar is a variant of Miller. Hakney is someone who ran or owned a livery stable. Golightly was for a messenger. “Draper” is from a cloth merchant, etc. Quirell would have been a maker of Quarrels for Crossbows, Scribner a Scribe (how apropos is Charles Scribner being the originator of a publishing company!), Barbour a Doctor (from Barber, a type of surgeon in the Middle Ages- they were the only ones who could perform bloodletting, which was broadcast by the red stripes on the white pole of their profession), and Callendar was a finisher of woolen cloth.
Not a common last name but Milliner (a maker of women’s hats) might make the list.
PS – Draper (a dealer in fabrics and sewing materials).
No “L” profession names?
I always thought, perhaps incorrectly, that Lawlor was a lawyer.
Letterman, Lederer – leather workers?
I was baffled by the surname Pope (which shouldn’t be inheritable); perhaps he was the Pope’s man.
Ooh, your L suggestions are great, thanks!
Walter, there are more besides Pope: Priest, Bishop, Monk being common. I understand that these may have been a way of identifying a father who could not otherwise be acknowledged! But your idea is a possibility too.
Well these examples are all male.What about some common female names as professions?eg-prioress,deacon,hooker etc.