The world of work has changed greatly from the times of our ancestors, causing many occupational names and terms to fall into disuse. If you found your ancestor named as a ripper, seinter, hosteler, sperviter, dobber, or pettifogger, would you know what it meant? Probably not. Yet, the work that our ancestors chose for their living is an important part of who they were. Learning about the occupations of our ancestors can provide insight into their daily lives, social status, and possibly even the origin of your family surname. Not to mention, many old occupations are interesting enough to add a touch of spice to your family history.
This free glossary of old occupations explains the function of hundreds of old occupations, trades, and job titles. To find the old occupations that you are looking for, simply click the appropriate letter in the navigation bar located at the top of each index page in the glossary.
This old occupations glossary is a continual work-in-progress. If you come across an
old occupation that you would like to see included,
please send me an email at genealogy@aboutguide.com
and include OLD OCCUPATIONS as the subject of your email.
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Related Resources: Main Glossary of Genealogical & Historical Terms
