Ancestors
It is interesting to see what occupations were followed by my direct ancestors.
There have been clear instances of families (either siblings or descandants) following identical or related trades.
It is perhaps surprising that as the most common occupation (until the 20
th century) was labourer or agricultural labourer, how few of my ancestors worked in that line.
Occupations
This is the list of occupations of my direct ancestors, grouped by gender, and sorted alphabetically.
Each line represents one individual.
I have ignored occupations from census records such as Scholar for children, or Tailors Wife for spouses.
For people with multiple occupations in their lifetime I have eliminated those of very short duration, and included all of significance - those are comma separated.
Males
Agricultural Labourer |
Agricultural Labourer |
Baker |
Bricklayer's Labourer |
Brushmaker, Oil & Colourman |
Carpenter, Coal Merchant |
Colonial Broker's Clerk |
Confectioner Baker |
Dyer |
Farm Steward & Bailiff |
Furnace Man, Copper Works Foreman |
Gamekeeper |
Gamekeeper |
Gardener |
Gardener |
Gentleman |
Glass Cutter |
Groom, Farmer |
Hand Loom Silk Weaver |
Horsekeeper |
House Painter (Master), Plumber |
Husbandman |
Labourer |
Labourer |
Letterpress Printer |
Linen Draper, Haberdasher |
Painter & House Decorator |
Platelayer, Police Constable |
Pork Butcher, Beerhouse Keeper |
Post Office Engineer |
Printer, Bookbinder, Bookseller |
Railway Level Crossing Gatekeeper |
Railway Platelayer |
Royal Navy Sick Berth Petty Officer, Post Office Telephones Engineer |
Sergeant 73rd Regt |
Shoemaker |
Shoemaker |
Stationer's Warehouseman |
Tailor |
Tailor, Publican |
Tailor (Master) |
Tailor (Master) |
Wheelwright |
Yeoman |
Yeoman |
Yeoman |
Married woman generally did not have occupations, and marrying in their early 20s meant that for
most of their adult lives they were looking after the home & family and were not breadwinners.
In my family it appears they either took over their husband's occupation upon his death or
undertook work that was part-time in nature.
Females
Charwoman |
Children's Milliner |
Domestic Cook |
Dressmaker |
Dressmaker |
Farmer |
Greengrocer |
Laundress |
Laundress |
Laundress |
Tobacconist |