England Business and Occupations

England Occupations

Knowing an ancestor’s occupation can help you distinguish him or her from other individuals with the same name. The records associated with your ancestor’s occupation could provide information about his or her life and family. Some occupations are more likely to have records about the people in those occupations than others. There are many records of people in trades, such as bootmakers and tailors.

What was my ancestor's occupation?

If you know:

• the person's name
• the geographical area where they worked
• a date range to focus your search

then there are several useful places to start searching for your ancestor's occupation:

• Census records. The decennial census recorded the occupation of those enumerated. From 1851 trades could be listed in the census in order of importance if a person had more than one source of income. For more information on using census records, see: England Census.

• Vital Records. Parish records of baptisms and marriages usually record the occupation of the father of the child in the case of a baptism and the occupations of the parties and their fathers in the case of a marriage. Parish records of burials less often record the occupation of the deceased. Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages will contain the occupation of the father in the case of a birth, the deceased in the case of a death (sometimes also that of the father) and, in respect of marriages, the occupations of the parties and their fathers. For more information on using these records, see: England Vital Records.

• Directories. From the 18th century, variously styled publications began being produced which contained alphabetical lists of persons, their trades and addresses. In the 1840s, street directories began to appear which included among its listings the occupation of the householder. Post Office officials began publishing their local Post Office Directory. For more guidance on using trade and other directories, see: Directories in England and Wales.

Other possible sources for your ancestor's occupation include migration records, passenger lists, naturalisation records, wills and probate records, land and property records, military records which will also record the occupation on enlistment, and newspaper reports.

Historical Occupations

Learn more about:

Agricultural Labourers Animal Husbandry Apothecaries Architects Armourers Artists Auctioneers Authors Bakers Bakers (2) Barkers Basketmakers Beadles Bell Founders Blacksmiths Bleachers Boarding Houses Bookbinders Booksellers Bootmakers Bowyers Braziers Brewers Bricklayers Bridge Builders Broderers Brushmakers Butchers Button Makers Cabinet Makers Canal Builders Canning Industry Carpenters Cartwrights Cement Makers Chapmen Char Women Charcoal Chemists Chimney Sweeps Circus Performers Civil Servants Clockmakers Clogmakers Coachmakers Coal Miners Cobblers Coffee Houses Coiners Colliers Combmakers Comedians Confectioners Confectioners (2)

Constables Cooks Coopers Copper Miners Cordwainers Cork Cutters Coroners Costermongers Cotton Industry Crop Husbandry Cross Sweeps Curriers Cutlers Drapers Dressmakers Dyers Engineers Engravers Entertainers Estate Stewards Explosives Fanmakers Farriers Featherworkers Fellers Feltmakers Fishers Fishing Equipment Fletchers Fruiterers Furriers Gamekeepers Gardeners Gas Industry Glassmakers Glaziers Glovers Goldsmiths Gunmakers Haberdashers Hairdressers Hangmen Harness Makers Hatters Hedgers Homemakers Horners Horsehair Workers Innkeepers Inspectors of Nuisances Ironmongers Ironworkers Jewelers

Joiners Knitters Knitters (2) Lace Cleaning/Mending Lacemakers Laundresses Lead Miners Leadworkers Leatherworkers Longbowstringmakers Loriners Machinists Maids Markets Masons Merchants Milliners Millwrights Miners Motorized vehicles Musical Instrument Makers Musicians Needlemakers Nurserymen Oil Makers Painters Paint Makers Papermakers Parchment Makers Parish Clerks Parliamentarians Pattenmakers Paviours Paviours (2) Pedlars Perfumerers Pewterers Photographers Pinmakers Pipemakers Plastic Makers Plumbers Poachers Porters Potters Printers Prison Officers Pubs Quarriers Quilters Rat Catchers Registrars Retailers

Road Making Ropemakers Saddlers Sailmakers Salters Sawyers Schoolmasters Scientific Instrument Makers Seamstresses Royal Household Servants Servants Shinglers Shipbuilders Shoemakers Silk Weavers Silversmiths Skinners Slate Miners Smelters Smock Makers Soapmakers Spectacle Makers Spies Spies (2) Sports Stationers Stationers (2) Staymakers Steel Industry Stone Masons Tailors Tanners Telecommunications Textile Printers Thatchers Timbermen Tin Miners Tinplateworkers Toolmakers Toymakers Trunkmakers Turners Tylers Undertakers Victuallers Wainwrights Watchmakers Weavers Whalers Wheelwrights Whitesmiths Wigmakers Woodcarvers Wool Dyers Wool Industry

The Oxford English Dictionary is the definitive source for occupation definitions. Of great value to the family historian, it also provides time periods when occupational terms were in use. RootsWeb has a general list.

For classification of occupations in England, see:

• General Register Office. Classification of Occupations, 1960. London, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1960. (Family History Library book Q 942 U2gr.)

Occupational Training

To learn a trade, an individual had to be apprenticed. Records were usually created of the agreement between the master (the one doing the teaching) and the person (father, guardian) or the organization (parish) placing the apprentice.

A child could be apprenticed by his father or by the parish council if the child was an orphan or a pauper. A person was apprenticed between the ages of 7 and 18 years. An indenture was a legal agreement that bound the apprentice to serve a number of years, usually 7. Indentures usually contain the names of the apprentice and the master, the master’s trade and residence, the terms of apprenticeship, and sometimes the name, occupation, and residence of the apprentice’s father.

After learning the trade, the apprentice became a journeyman. A journeyman was an employee who received wages.

Master was the level after journeyman. A master was the most skilled craftsman.

Apprenticeship Tax

Between 1710 and 1811 a tax was assessed on the masters of the many who were apprenticed. For more information about these tax records, see the Taxation topic page.

Apprenticeship books of Great Britain: Inland Revenue, town registers, Oct. 1711-Jan. 1811 and country registers, May 1710-Sept. 1808; and indexes to apprentices, 1710-1774 and indexes to masters, 1710-1762 See the following:

• Images of original records 1710-1811 at Ancestry (£)
  
• Online index 1710-1774 at FindMyPast (£)
  

• The National Archives provides downloadable PDFs for these records for free. You do have to register, but once that is done, you can choose the files you want and download them to your own computer. Once that is done, you can search them page by page.
• Alternatively, these records are on microfilm at The Family History Library at the following link [1]]

Guilds

Often the craftsmen of the same trade banded together to regulate trade and protect their members’ interests. The organization they formed was a guild. Those belonging to the guild were given special privileges, such as voting, and were called freemen. In a city a freeman was also called a citizen. In a town or rural area, he was called a burgess.

The city livery companies developed from the craft guilds of the 12th to the 15th centuries. The word livery originally referred to the distinctive uniform granted to each company. It now also denotes a company’s collective membership.

Guild records contain lists of members, information on journeymen practicing in the town, and advancements from the rank of apprentice to journeyman and from journeyman to master. Contracts between masters and parents of apprentices may also be included.

Freemen records are more useful than apprenticeship records because they usually give ages, birthplaces, parentage, and occupations.

Trades' Records

Guild records are usually among city or borough records or in the possession of the modern guild. Many are in London at the Guildhall Library. Chapter 14 in the following book explains guild records:

• A Guide to Genealogical Sources in Guildhall Library. Second Revised Edition. London, England: Corporation of London, 1981. (FHL book 942.1/L1 A3g 1981. BYU Harold B Lee Library book CS 414 .G84x 1988.)

Freemen and apprenticeship records are usually at the county record offices.

Many of the London Guild records have been indexed and are available:

London Guild Records Indexes Online

British Origins has an index of just under 500,000 names a this link for London Apprentices 1442-1850 (£) from indexes created by Cliff Webb.

The Family History Library Indexes and Records of London

The London Livery Company Apprenticeship Registers are in book form and indexes [2]]

The Family History Library has a good collection of books on the histories of occupations and guilds. The Family History Library has a very good collection of the London Guild Records on microfilm. [3]]

Professionals

In early use, the term "profession" was limited to the law, the established Church, and medicine (these three often called the "learned professions") and sometimes extended to the military profession. Training was undertaken, not through apprenticeship, but at schools, colleges and universities, although the solicitors' branch of the law was subject to a special form of apprenticeship called 'articles' undertaken by articled clerks.

Members of the did not join guilds; they had their own associations, disciplinary bodies and publications. For details see:

• Doctors: Physicians, Surgeons, Dentists and Apothecaries in England
• Lawyers in England and Wales
• Clergy of Church of England (in England)

See also:

• Religious non-conformity in England
• England Religious Occupations, Roman Catholics, Nonconformists (National Institute)

Government employees and officeholders

Records of persons employed in various occupations by the government have survived in various archives. They are usually organised by employer rather than occupation. Details of officeholders have also been complied.

• The Coastguard and Custom and Excise Officers:
  • The Coastguard The National Archives Research Guide
  • Looking for records of a Customs officer The National Archives finding guide
  • Looking for records of an Excise or Inland Revenue officer The National Archives finding guide
• Office-Holders in Modern Britain

Main article: England Occupations, Coastguards, Lifeboats, Lighthouses (National Institute)

Main article: England_Customs_and_Excise_Records_(National_Institute)

Occupational Indexes for Finding Ancestors

INDEX	ADDRESS
Brassworkers 1500-1900	Ms. Pat Santaana, 29 Gilda Court, Watford Way, Mill Hill, London NW7 2QN
Brickmakers	David Cufley, 55 Broomhill Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 3HT
Brushmakers	Kenneth A. Doughty, The Society of Brushmakers’ Descendants, 13 Ashworthy Place, Church Langley, Essex CM17 9PU .
Catholic nuns	Catholic Family History Society
Clay Pipe Makers and Society for Clay Pipe Research
Combmakers	Ron Bowers, Road End Cottage, Stockland, Honiton, Devon EX14 9LJ
Combmakers and Horners	Robert Watts, 34 Cherry Orchard, Wootton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7HT
Dissenting Ministers (Surman Index)	Dr. Williams’s Library, 14 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AG
Entertainers	Marjorie P. Dunn, 2 Summer Lane, Sheffield, Yorkshire S17 4AJ
Gamekeepers 1711-1900	Ms Dolina Clarke, 22 Portobello Grove, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8HU
Gas Industry Genealogical Index	Terry Mitchell, Old Barnshaw Cottage, Pepper Street, Mobberley, Cheshire WA16 6JH. Email: TMM@Tinyworld.co.uk
Glassmakers	Mr. B. Hardyman, 26 St. Anne’s Drive, Coalpit Heath, Bristol, Avon BS17 2TH
Index of Indexers	Brian Jones, 32 Myers Avenue, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 4ET
Johnston Index obituaries)	Manchester College Library, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD
Lacemakers	Mrs. Jennifer Hanney, 155 Ridgeway Drive, Bromley, Kent BR1 5DB
Lawyers	Tim Cockerell, The Old Mill House, Weston Colville, Cambridge CB1 5NY
Millers, Mills and Millwrights	Tony and Mary Yoward, 4 Slipper Mill, Emsworth, Hants PO10 8XD
North of England Mining Accident Victims 1858-1899	George Bell, Original Indexes, 113 East View, Wideopen, Tyne and Wear NE13 6EF
Papermakers in the British Isles	Mrs. Jean Stirk, Shode House, Ightham, Kent TN15 9HP
Perukemakers	Mrs. V.A. Given, Garden House, Horton, Northampton NN7 2BB
Publicans and Pubs, Inns and Taverns	Stan Gooch, 144 Anerley Road, London SE20 Email: Pubsindex@drones.ndirect.co.uk
Quilt makers	Thelma East, Delamorn, Ladywood, Droitwich, Cheshire WR9 0AJ
Shoemakers	Information Officer, Boot and Shoe Collection, Central Museum, Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northants NN1 1DP
Smith’s Inventory on fiche from Family History Library	England FHL fiche 6110526 (96) Ireland FHL fiche 6110527 (18) Scotland FHL fiche 6110528 (18) Wales FHL fiche 6110529 (14)
Stonemasons	Mr. M.J.A. Miller, Sanderlings, Plovers Barrows, Buxted, East Sussex TH22 4JP
Surman Index (Dissenting Ministers)	Dr. Williams’s Library, 14 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AG
Telecommunications	British Telecom Archives, 3rd Floor, Holborn Telephone Exchange, 268-270 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EE
Tobacco Pipe Makers	Peter J. Hammond, 68 Byron Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, Notts NG2 6DX
Trades and Skilled Occupations Bibliography	George Nicolle, 33 Torr Road, Hartley, Plymouth PL3 5TF
Unitarian obituaries (Johnston index)	Manchester College Library, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD
West Country Stone and Quarrymen
Woad-people	Mrs. V. Billington, 502 Wellsway, Bath, Avon BA2 2UD
Watermen and Lightermen Apprentice bindings on fiche or CD	Rob Cottrell, 19 Bellevue Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 8ND Email RJCindex@aol.com Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section

Useful Addresses for Occupational Organizations

Artists Papers Register
Baptist Union and B.U. Library	Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT 4 Southampton Row, London WC1
Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood	Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA Email: kbones@vam.ac.uk
Brewery History Society
British Coal (see Hayes Info. Man.)	Headquarters, Hobart House, Grosvenor Place, London SW1
British Library	96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
British Music Hall Society	Max Tyler, 76 Royal Close, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 2FL
British Theatre Association	9 Fitzroy Square, London
Church of England Record Centre	Church House, Great Smith Street, London London SW1P 3AZ
Circus Friends Association	John Turner, Lingdales Press, 15 Lingdales, Formby, Liverpool L37 7HA
City of London Chamberlain’s Court	Clerk, CLCC, Guildhall, Aldermanbury, London EC2P 2EJ
Clothworkers’ Company (London)	Clothworkers’ Hall, Dunster Court, London EC3R 7AH
Corporation of London	PO Box 270, Guildhall, Aldermanbury, London EC2P 2EJ
Courage Brewery	Archivist Ken Thomas, Courage Ltd, PO Box 85, Bristol, Avon BS99 7BT
Dr. Williams’s Library	14 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AR
Drapers’ Company (London)	Drapers’ Hall, 27 Throgmorton Street, London EC2N 2DQ
Era, The (theatrical magazine)
Fairground Association of Great Britain
Fairground Society
Family History Library	35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 84150
Goldsmiths’ Company (London)	Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London EC2V 6BN
Guildhall Library	Aldermanbury, Longon EC2V 7HH
Hays Information Management (for British Coal personnel records)	Cannock Record Centre, Old Mid-Cannock Closed Colliery Site, Rumer Hill Road, Cannock, Staffs WS11 3EX
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales	The Registrar, Gloucester House, 399 Silbury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK9 2HL
International Dictionary of Veterinary Biography
Jerwood Library of Performing Arts	King Charles Court], Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London. SE10 9JF(Formed from Mander-Michenson Theatre Collection + Library of Trinity College of Music).
University of Manchester Library	University of Manchester, Oxford Road, , Manchester M13 9PP
Law Society	113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
Leathersellers’ Company (London)	Leathersellers’ Company, 21 Garlick Hall ,London EC4U 2AU
Harris Manchester College Library	Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD
Mander and Micheson Theatre Collection	University of Bristol
Master Mariners’ Company	The Clerk, Master Mariners’ Hall, HQS ‘Wellington’, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2PN
Mercers’ Company (London)	Mercers’ Hall, Ironmonger Lane, London EC2V 8HE
Methodist Archives and Research Centre	John Rylands University Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH
National Fairground Archive	NFA, Main Library, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN
National Telephone Library	BT Archives and Historical Information Centre, Telephone House, 204 Temple Avenue, London EC4Y 0HL
Patent Office
Patents at British Library
Public Record Office	Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey TW9 4DU [from April 2003 renamed The National Archives]
Romany and Traveller FHS
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Archives	Archivist, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons	Library and Information Service], Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF Email library@rcvstrust.org.uk
Royal Military School of Music	Kneller Hall, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7DU
Royal Pharmaceutical Society	1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN
Saddlers’ Company (London)	Saddlers’ Hall, 40 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 6BR
Salters’ Company (London)	Salters’ Hall, 4 Fore Street, London EC2Y 5DE
Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters [see also William Booth Memorial Training College]	101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN
Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain	41 Clarence Street, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4SY
Society of Genealogists	14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA
St. Bride Printing Library	Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EE
Stationers’ Company (London)	Stationers’ Hall, London EC4M 7DD (see also St. Bride Printing Library)
The Royal Archives	Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ
Theatre Museum	1E Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PA
Theatrical Collection	Westminster Reference Library, 35 St. Martin’s Street, London WC2H 7HP
Town Criers	The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers
Trade Union Records	Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library, Coventry CV4 7AL
Victoria and Albert Museum	Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL
Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine Library	183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE Email:library@wellcome.ac.uk
Westminster Archives	City of Westminster Archives Centre], 10 St. Ann’s Street, London SW1P 2DE
William Booth Memorial Training College	Denmark Hill, London SE5 8BQ Salvation Army

Occupation Resources and help pages on RootsChat Occupation Resources and help pages. (Free).

Family History Library Collection

Occupational histories, records, and related items are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

ENGLAND - OCCUPATIONS

ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS

ENGLAND, [COUNTY], [PARISH or CITY] - OCCUPATIONS

Related Wiki Articles

• England Occupations Further Reading A to B (National Institute)
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Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)