Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Non-er Occupationals

So a few days ago I compiled a list of -er names that weren't occupational surnames. But that got me to wondering about the reverse: English occupational surnames that don't end in -er/or. We've got Mason, BaileyClark, and um......surely there's tons of others, right?
This is mostly for fun, but I'm sure there are some that would make decent first names (or already are :) ).
(nowhere near an exhaustive list, of course!)

  • Abbey--abbey servant
  • Abbott--abbot, abbot's servant
  • Ackerman--tenant farmer
  • Bailey--bailiff
  • Beck--baker, miner [other derivations as well]
  • Bird/Byrd--falconer, dove-keeper
  • Bond--tenant farmer
  • Bowman--archer 
  • Chase--hunter
  • Clark/Clarke--clerk, scribe
  • Clay--clay-worker
  • Coleman--charcoal maker [other derivations as well]
  • Dean--dean, dean's employee
  • Denman--gravedigger
  • Gage--assayer, moneylender
  • Garnet/Garnett--pomegranate seller, hinge-maker
  • Hall/Hallman--manor servant
  • Haward/Hayward--land warden
  • Howard--shepherd [other derivations as well]
  • Jardine--gardener
  • Kay/Key--quay-worker [other derivations as well]
  • Kellogg--hog-butcher
  • Marchand--merchant
  • Marshall--officer, lawman
  • Martel--smith [other derivations as well]
  • Mason--stone-worker
  • Millard/Millward--mill guard
  • Norris--wet nurse [other derivations as well]
  • Paige/Page/Paget--page, servant
  • Palfrey--horse breeder or keeper
  • Provost--military or religious official
  • Reeve/Reeves/Revie--sheriff
  • Scarlett--dealer of escarlate cloth
  • Seward--swineherd [other derivations as well]
  • Shepherd/Shepard--shepherd
  • Sherman--shearer, barber
  • Smith/Smythe--smith
  • Spence--spencer, steward
  • Stewart/Steward/Stuart--steward
  • Stoddard--horse-keeper
  • Summers--court summoner
  • Ward--watchman, guard
  • Wayne--wagon maker, driver
  • Wright--craftsman
  • Yeoman--landowner

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