London Business and Occupations

England London Occupations

108 livery companies have operated in London. The Medieval Genealogy website maintains a list of The City Livery Companies, along with links to company websites.

Histories have been written on many London livery companies. The British Library has compiled a detailed list.

Livery Company Records

Apprenticeship records are one of the most valuable sources created by London livery companies. They often name the following information about an apprentice's father: name, residence, and occupation. Cliff Webb has abstracted the records of many companies:

• London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850, courtesy: British Origins ($); also available in book form (48 vols.): FHL Books 942.1/L1 U25w v. 1-48.

Records from the following companies are included: apothecaries, armourers and brasiers, basketmakers, blacksmiths, bowyers, brewers, broderers, brown bakers, butchers, carmen, coachmakers and coach harness makers, combmakers, cooks, curriers, cutlers, distillers, dyers, fan makers, farriers, feltmakers, fishmongers, fletchers, founders, framework knitters, fruiterers, gardeners, glass-sellers, glaziers, glovers, gold and silver wyre drawers, grocers, gunmakers, horners, innholders, ironmongers, longbowstring makers, loriners, makers of playing cards, masons, musicians, needlemakers, painter-stainers, pattenmakers, paviors, pewterers, pinmakers, plaisterers, plumbers, poulters, saddlers, spectaclemakers, tallow chandlers, tinplate workers, tobacco pipe makers and tobacco blenders, turners, tylers and bricklayers, upholders, vintners, waxchandlers, and woolmen.

• Association Oath Rolls for City of London Livery Companies, 1696, courtesy: British Origins ($)