Results: Occupational Surnames from Old Words
Occupations were one way people first obtained surnames. Some, like Smith or Shepherd, are still common words, and others, like Forster, are contractions where you can easily guess the original. But a number of other ones are jobs which are not common nowadays or have another name.
1.
1.
The name Barker did not come from a carnival barker. Instead, it means someone who tans leather. Did you ever either tan leather or work as a barker at a carnival, fair or convention? Yes
5%
•
54 votes
No
75%
•
792 votes
Not Applicable
20%
•
217 votes
2.
2.
Fletcher means a person who makes arrows, probably not the most common job nowadays. Do you know any fletchers or people named Fletcher? Yes
16%
•
174 votes
No
65%
•
686 votes
Not Applicable
19%
•
203 votes
3.
3.
Jagger is an old word for someone who managed a team of pack horses (horses used to carry things other than people). Are you a fan of Mick Jagger? Yes
38%
•
406 votes
No
42%
•
445 votes
Not Applicable
20%
•
212 votes
4.
4.
Mercer is a fairly common name. The word it is derived from means a merchant, particularly one who sells cloth or dry goods. It is still occasionally in use in modern English. Did you know what a mercer was before today? Yes
15%
•
164 votes
No
66%
•
697 votes
Not Applicable
19%
•
202 votes
5.
5.
Punter did not come from a sport, but rather meant a toll collector on a bridge. Did you ever work as a toll collector? Yes
5%
•
49 votes
No
77%
•
816 votes
Not Applicable
19%
•
198 votes
6.
6.
Wain means a wagon and a wright is someone who makes something, so a Wainwright makes wagons. Are you familiar with the music of the Canadian singer Rufus Wainwright or his late father Loudon Wainwright? Yes
16%
•
166 votes
No
61%
•
645 votes
Undecided
5%
•
58 votes
Not Applicable
18%
•
194 votes
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