_Michael_
Explorer
Tired of your characters strolling into town and demanding, "Where is the local weapon smith?!" and just blithely assuming that the village of approximately 780 people have a blacksmith interested in more than making horseshoes and bridles? Or are you sick of reaching for an NPC description to pull out of thin air after your characters go off on a tangent, and you need a profession for them that isn't just, "Local smith/local apothecary/etc?"
Look no further! Presented below is a list of professions I've combed the interwebz for, and hope that you all will add to and expand! Any archaic names for generalized professions are welcome! I've stayed away from specialized professional terms for jobs that operated only one aspect of a profession--wool carders, for instance, who specialize in combing the refuse from raw wool. I'm looking for more generalized jobs that have cool archaic terms/names that I can just drag and drop into the campaign. Now, instead of, "You meet Garrik, a blacksmith," it's "You meet Garrick, a greensmith [term for a copper smith]." More archaic terminology grounds the campaign in more realistic trappings, making the environment more immersive.
I'll put it in spoilers so it isn't just a wall of words.
Feel free to add to the list! Always looking to expand!
Look no further! Presented below is a list of professions I've combed the interwebz for, and hope that you all will add to and expand! Any archaic names for generalized professions are welcome! I've stayed away from specialized professional terms for jobs that operated only one aspect of a profession--wool carders, for instance, who specialize in combing the refuse from raw wool. I'm looking for more generalized jobs that have cool archaic terms/names that I can just drag and drop into the campaign. Now, instead of, "You meet Garrik, a blacksmith," it's "You meet Garrick, a greensmith [term for a copper smith]." More archaic terminology grounds the campaign in more realistic trappings, making the environment more immersive.
I'll put it in spoilers so it isn't just a wall of words.
Acater: supplier of food provisions
Acreman: plowman, oxherder
Accipitrary: a falconer
Alewife: a woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern
All Spice: A grocer
Anchorite/Anchoress: Hermit or religious recluse
Ale-Conner/Ale Founder: An official who tests quality and measure of ale served in public houses
Ankle beater: Young person hired to drive cattle to market
Apothecary: Prepared and sold medicine or drugs
Aproneer: shopkeeper
Arkwright: skilled craftsman who produced “arks” (wooden chests or coffers)
Armiger: squire
Ashman: dustman, garbage collector
Astrologer: Studied the stars and made predictions
Badger: licensed pauper who wore a badge with the letter P on it and could only work in specific areas
Bagman: traveling salesman
Bailiff: officer of the sheriff, a land steward acting on behalf of a landowner
Banker: Deals with money and loans
Barber: Performed surgery, bloodletting, and hairdressing
Bard: Poet or minstrel
Bargeman: operated a barge ferry
Barker: Tanner
Basher: worked with sheep and goat skins
Basketman: made baskets and furniture from wicker
Bauer: farmer
Baxter: baker
Beadle: officer of the parish, town crier
Beaver: feltmaker specializing in hats
Belhoste: tavern keeper
Bell Founder: bell maker
Bell Ringer: Sounded bells in churches and town halls
Bellman: Watchman or town crier who also collected letters for the mail coach
Bill Poster: Put up notices, signs and advertisements
Binder: Bookmaker
Blower: Glassmaker
Bluffer: Innkeeper or landlord of a pub
Boardwright: carpenter who made tables and chairs
Bodey: Made bodices for women’s garments
Boniface: Innkeeper
Book Gilder: Decorated books with gold leaf
Boor: Peasant, especially one who works the land
Boothman: Corn Merchant
Borler: cheap clothing maker
Botcher: tailor or cobbler
Bowker: Yarn dyer
Braider: Ropemaker
Brazier: Brass smith
Brightsmith: Metal worker
Broom Squire: Broom maker
Brownsmith: Copper or Brass Smith
Buck Washer: laundress
Bullwhacker: Oxen driver
Burye Man: Grave Digger
Butler: Steward of a household
Butner: Button maker
Caddie: Messenger or errand boy
Caffler: Rag and bone collector
Caird: Tinker
Candler/Chandler: Candlemaker
Cambist: Banker
Campaner: Bell maker
Canvaser: Canvas maker
Caper/Capper: Cap maker
Carder: woolmaker
Carle: A common laborer, often associated with mining
Carter: drove a vehicle used to transport goods
Carner: Granary keeper
Carnifex: Butcher
Cartwright: maker of carts and wagons
Cashmarie: Fish seller at inland markets
Cellarman: Official who looked after the beer, wines and spirits in public houses
Chaunter: Street entertainer who sang ballads
Chapeler: Hat maker/seller
Chapman: Itinerant peddler of goods
Charwoman: cleaning woman, skullery maid
Chatelaine: Mistress of a castle or house
Chiffonier: Wig maker
Chimney Sweep: Chimney cleaner
Chirugeon: Apothecary or surgeon
Claker: Magician/astrologer
Clapman: Town crier
Clark: Clerk
Clothier: One who made or sold clothes
Coachman: One paid to drive coaches
Coalburner: Made charcoal
Coalman: Sold coal from a horse and cart, house to house
Cobbler: Shoemaker
Cooper: Barrel maker
Copperbeater: Copper smith
Costermonger/Costerwife: Fruit seller
Cowherd: Herds cattle
Crier: Law court officer, auctioneer, town announcer
Crocker: potter
Crofter: Tenant of a small piece of land
Crowner: Coroner
Currier: Cures or tans hides
Cutler: Knife seller or sharpener
Dairyman/Dairymaid: Works in a dairy, producing milk and butter
Delver: Ditch digger
Dexter: Dyer
Draper: dealer in fabrics and sewing needs
Drayman: Cart driver
Drummer: Traveling salesman
Duffer: Peddler of cheap goods
Dustman: Collected domestic refuse
Earer: Plowman
Eggler: Egg or poultry dealer
Ellerman: One who sold oil used for lamps
Ellymaker: Oil maker
Embalmer: One who prepares bodies for burial
Equerry: officer of the royal household, usually responsible for the royal horses
Exchequer: revenue collector
Exciseman: excise tax collector
Faber: artisan or workman
Falconer: breeder, hunter and trainer of falcons
Fanner: grain winnower
Farandman: Traveling merchant
Farrier: Horse shoer or blacksmith specializing in horse shoes and other related equipment
Feeder: Herdsman
Feller: Those who cut down trees and prepare timber
Felter: maker of hats
Fewster: saddle maker
Fewterer: Keeper of hounds, for hunting or coursing
Fiddler: makes and repairs musical instruments
File Cutter: a maker of files
Flyman: light coach driver
Foot Maiden/Man: Servant who ran errands
Foot Pad: Robber
Foot-Post: Letter or parcel carrier or messenger who traveled on foot
Forgeman: blacksmith assistant
Forger: blacksmith
Fossetmaker: One who made faucets for ale casks
Fower: Street cleaner, sweeper
Fowler: dealer or catcher of birds
Fripperer: Buyer and seller of old clothes
Friseur: hair dresser
Furber/Furbisher: rust remover, polisher of metal, eg, armor
Fulker: Pawnbroker
Fuller: wool maker
Furner: baker
Furrier: seller or maker of furs
Gaoler: jailer
Gater: Watchman
Gatward: Goat keeper
Gaunter: glove maker
Gilder: applier of gold leaf
Girdler: belt maker
Glazier: glassmaker
Glover: one that makes or sells gloves
Gracewife: midwife
Graffer: notary or scrivener
Granger: farmer
Graver: carver or sculptor of images
Grazier: cattle herder
Greensmith: copper smith
Haberdasher: seller of men’s clothing or hats
Handseller: Street vendor
Handwoman: midwife or female attendant
Hansard: weapon maker or seller
Hawker/Huckster: Peddler
Hatter: Maker or seller of hats
Haymonger: dealer in hay
Henchman: horseman or groom
Herald: Messenger, often with ceremonial duties
Hind: farm laborer
Hoggard: Pig drover
Holster: groom who took care of horses
Hooper: makes hoops for casks
Horner: works with horn (making combs, spoons, etc)
Horse Leech: veterinarian, farrier
Horse Capper: Dealer in worthless horses
Hosier: seller of stockings, socks, gloves, nightcaps
Hosteller: innkeeper
Hostler: groom for horses
Husbandman: farmer (general term)
Jester: A fool
Joiner: A skilled carpenter
Jongleur: Traveling mintrel
Kedger: Fisherman
Kilner: limeburner
Knacker: harness maker or buyer of old horses and dead animals
Knoller: bell toller
Lacewoman: Lady’s maid
Laster: Shoemaker
Lattener: brass worker
Leech: physician
Limner: illuminator of books, painter or drawer
Litterman: groom (horses)
Lorimer: maker of horse gear
Luthier: maker and repairer of stringed instruments
Maderer: Gathered and sold garlic
Malender: farmer
Malster: brewer, maker or seller of malts
Manciple: steward
Marshall: horse doctor or shoe smith
Matchet Forger: Knife maker
Mealman: Dealer in meal or flour
Melder: corn miller
Mercator: Merchant
Mercer: cloth seller
Miller: Operates a mill (grain, flour)
Millpeck: sharpener of mill stones
Moulder: brick maker, maker of molds or castings
Mountebank: seller of ineffectual patent medicines
Mourner: professional mourners
Mudlark: sewer cleaner
Nagsman: horse trainer
Naperer: royal servant in charge of table linens
Neatherd: cowherder
Nedeller: Needle maker
Necessary woman: servant responsible for emptying and cleaning chamber pots
Netter: Maker of nets
Olitor: Kitchen gardener
Ostiary: Monastery door keeper
Ostler: innkeeper/taverner, or a horse groom
Owler: sheep or wool smuggler
Packer: packs goods for sale
Packman: itinerant salesman
Page: youth being trained as a squire to a knight
Paling Man: seller or eels
Palister: official who oversees the security and maintenance of parks
Pannifex: cloth worker
Pantler: Butler
Pardoner: seller of indulgences
Pargeter: applied ornamental plaster to buildings
Pasteler: Pastry chef
Pastor: Shepherd
Pedascule: schoolmaster
Pelterer: One who worked with animal skins
Perchemear: Maker of parchment
Peregrinator: Itinerant wanderer
Peruker: Wig maker
Pessoner: Fish monger
Pewterer: Pewter smith
Pigman: Crockery seller
Piker: tramp or vagrant
Piller: robber
Pinder: dog catcher
Piner: laborer
Piper: Innkeeper
Pistor: Baker
Pitman: coal miner
Plaiter: weaver of straw for hats and other articles
Plasterer: deals with the plastering of walls of houses and buildings
Plowman: Works fields with a plow
Plowwright: smith specializing in plows
Plumer: maker or dealer of feathers
Polentier: Poultry dealer
Poller/Powler: Barber
Ponderator: inspector of weights and measures
Potato Badger: seller of potatoes
Preceptress: school mistress
Prothonary: law clerk
Publican: innkeeper
Punky: Chimney Sweep
Purefinder: old women and young girls who collected dog droppings for tanning leather
Raffman: a junk dealer
Ragman: a collector and seller of old clothes and rags
Raker: street sanitation worker
Ratoner: rat catcher
Rattlewatch: town watchman
Redsmith: goldsmith
Reeder: a thatcher who worked with reeds
Registrar: official in charge of recording documents such as land purchases and births
Renovator: tailor
Roper: maker of rope or nets
Rugman: dealer in rugs
Runner: smuggler
Saddler: Makes saddles and other horse equipment
Salter/Saucer: one who made or dealt in salt
Sandesman: ambassador or messenger
Sawyer: saws timbers to boards
Scaleraker/Scavenger: One paid by a local church to keep the streets around it clean
Scavelman: one paid to keep waterways and ditches clean
Scribe: clerk
Scrivener: clerk, notary
Scutcher: flax worker
Scullion/Scullery maid: servant who performed all the menial tasks
Seedsman: seller of seed
Sempster: seamstress
Seneschal: senior steward at a manor
Sewster: seamstress
Sheargrinder: sharpened scissors and shears, as well as other blades
Shepherd: Tends sheep
Shepster: dressmaker
Shrager: one who trimmed and pruned trees
Shrieve: sheriff
Shuster: shoe maker
Simpler: herbalist
Sissor: tailor
Skepper/Skelper: one who made and sold beehives
Skinner: dealer in hides
Soper: soap maker
Solicitor: lawyer
Sortor: tailor
Souter: shoe maker
Spallier: tin worker
Spicer: grocer or dealer in spices
Spinner: weaver who works on a loom and spins yarn
Stabler: ostler
Stationer: bookseller, seller of paper and writing instruments
Stay Maker: corset maker
Step Boy: servant who assists people in and out of coaches
Steward: manager of property
Stockinger: knitter, weaver or dealer in stockings
Sumner: summoner or apparitor; bailsman
Swain: herdsman
Thatcher: roofer
Tiler: makes and installs roof tiles
Tunner: one employed by breweries to fill ale casks (tuns) with ale
Vintner: Produces wine
Wainwright: Wagonmaker
Wheelwright: makes and repairs wheels for carts and wagons
Acreman: plowman, oxherder
Accipitrary: a falconer
Alewife: a woman who keeps an alehouse or tavern
All Spice: A grocer
Anchorite/Anchoress: Hermit or religious recluse
Ale-Conner/Ale Founder: An official who tests quality and measure of ale served in public houses
Ankle beater: Young person hired to drive cattle to market
Apothecary: Prepared and sold medicine or drugs
Aproneer: shopkeeper
Arkwright: skilled craftsman who produced “arks” (wooden chests or coffers)
Armiger: squire
Ashman: dustman, garbage collector
Astrologer: Studied the stars and made predictions
Badger: licensed pauper who wore a badge with the letter P on it and could only work in specific areas
Bagman: traveling salesman
Bailiff: officer of the sheriff, a land steward acting on behalf of a landowner
Banker: Deals with money and loans
Barber: Performed surgery, bloodletting, and hairdressing
Bard: Poet or minstrel
Bargeman: operated a barge ferry
Barker: Tanner
Basher: worked with sheep and goat skins
Basketman: made baskets and furniture from wicker
Bauer: farmer
Baxter: baker
Beadle: officer of the parish, town crier
Beaver: feltmaker specializing in hats
Belhoste: tavern keeper
Bell Founder: bell maker
Bell Ringer: Sounded bells in churches and town halls
Bellman: Watchman or town crier who also collected letters for the mail coach
Bill Poster: Put up notices, signs and advertisements
Binder: Bookmaker
Blower: Glassmaker
Bluffer: Innkeeper or landlord of a pub
Boardwright: carpenter who made tables and chairs
Bodey: Made bodices for women’s garments
Boniface: Innkeeper
Book Gilder: Decorated books with gold leaf
Boor: Peasant, especially one who works the land
Boothman: Corn Merchant
Borler: cheap clothing maker
Botcher: tailor or cobbler
Bowker: Yarn dyer
Braider: Ropemaker
Brazier: Brass smith
Brightsmith: Metal worker
Broom Squire: Broom maker
Brownsmith: Copper or Brass Smith
Buck Washer: laundress
Bullwhacker: Oxen driver
Burye Man: Grave Digger
Butler: Steward of a household
Butner: Button maker
Caddie: Messenger or errand boy
Caffler: Rag and bone collector
Caird: Tinker
Candler/Chandler: Candlemaker
Cambist: Banker
Campaner: Bell maker
Canvaser: Canvas maker
Caper/Capper: Cap maker
Carder: woolmaker
Carle: A common laborer, often associated with mining
Carter: drove a vehicle used to transport goods
Carner: Granary keeper
Carnifex: Butcher
Cartwright: maker of carts and wagons
Cashmarie: Fish seller at inland markets
Cellarman: Official who looked after the beer, wines and spirits in public houses
Chaunter: Street entertainer who sang ballads
Chapeler: Hat maker/seller
Chapman: Itinerant peddler of goods
Charwoman: cleaning woman, skullery maid
Chatelaine: Mistress of a castle or house
Chiffonier: Wig maker
Chimney Sweep: Chimney cleaner
Chirugeon: Apothecary or surgeon
Claker: Magician/astrologer
Clapman: Town crier
Clark: Clerk
Clothier: One who made or sold clothes
Coachman: One paid to drive coaches
Coalburner: Made charcoal
Coalman: Sold coal from a horse and cart, house to house
Cobbler: Shoemaker
Cooper: Barrel maker
Copperbeater: Copper smith
Costermonger/Costerwife: Fruit seller
Cowherd: Herds cattle
Crier: Law court officer, auctioneer, town announcer
Crocker: potter
Crofter: Tenant of a small piece of land
Crowner: Coroner
Currier: Cures or tans hides
Cutler: Knife seller or sharpener
Dairyman/Dairymaid: Works in a dairy, producing milk and butter
Delver: Ditch digger
Dexter: Dyer
Draper: dealer in fabrics and sewing needs
Drayman: Cart driver
Drummer: Traveling salesman
Duffer: Peddler of cheap goods
Dustman: Collected domestic refuse
Earer: Plowman
Eggler: Egg or poultry dealer
Ellerman: One who sold oil used for lamps
Ellymaker: Oil maker
Embalmer: One who prepares bodies for burial
Equerry: officer of the royal household, usually responsible for the royal horses
Exchequer: revenue collector
Exciseman: excise tax collector
Faber: artisan or workman
Falconer: breeder, hunter and trainer of falcons
Fanner: grain winnower
Farandman: Traveling merchant
Farrier: Horse shoer or blacksmith specializing in horse shoes and other related equipment
Feeder: Herdsman
Feller: Those who cut down trees and prepare timber
Felter: maker of hats
Fewster: saddle maker
Fewterer: Keeper of hounds, for hunting or coursing
Fiddler: makes and repairs musical instruments
File Cutter: a maker of files
Flyman: light coach driver
Foot Maiden/Man: Servant who ran errands
Foot Pad: Robber
Foot-Post: Letter or parcel carrier or messenger who traveled on foot
Forgeman: blacksmith assistant
Forger: blacksmith
Fossetmaker: One who made faucets for ale casks
Fower: Street cleaner, sweeper
Fowler: dealer or catcher of birds
Fripperer: Buyer and seller of old clothes
Friseur: hair dresser
Furber/Furbisher: rust remover, polisher of metal, eg, armor
Fulker: Pawnbroker
Fuller: wool maker
Furner: baker
Furrier: seller or maker of furs
Gaoler: jailer
Gater: Watchman
Gatward: Goat keeper
Gaunter: glove maker
Gilder: applier of gold leaf
Girdler: belt maker
Glazier: glassmaker
Glover: one that makes or sells gloves
Gracewife: midwife
Graffer: notary or scrivener
Granger: farmer
Graver: carver or sculptor of images
Grazier: cattle herder
Greensmith: copper smith
Haberdasher: seller of men’s clothing or hats
Handseller: Street vendor
Handwoman: midwife or female attendant
Hansard: weapon maker or seller
Hawker/Huckster: Peddler
Hatter: Maker or seller of hats
Haymonger: dealer in hay
Henchman: horseman or groom
Herald: Messenger, often with ceremonial duties
Hind: farm laborer
Hoggard: Pig drover
Holster: groom who took care of horses
Hooper: makes hoops for casks
Horner: works with horn (making combs, spoons, etc)
Horse Leech: veterinarian, farrier
Horse Capper: Dealer in worthless horses
Hosier: seller of stockings, socks, gloves, nightcaps
Hosteller: innkeeper
Hostler: groom for horses
Husbandman: farmer (general term)
Jester: A fool
Joiner: A skilled carpenter
Jongleur: Traveling mintrel
Kedger: Fisherman
Kilner: limeburner
Knacker: harness maker or buyer of old horses and dead animals
Knoller: bell toller
Lacewoman: Lady’s maid
Laster: Shoemaker
Lattener: brass worker
Leech: physician
Limner: illuminator of books, painter or drawer
Litterman: groom (horses)
Lorimer: maker of horse gear
Luthier: maker and repairer of stringed instruments
Maderer: Gathered and sold garlic
Malender: farmer
Malster: brewer, maker or seller of malts
Manciple: steward
Marshall: horse doctor or shoe smith
Matchet Forger: Knife maker
Mealman: Dealer in meal or flour
Melder: corn miller
Mercator: Merchant
Mercer: cloth seller
Miller: Operates a mill (grain, flour)
Millpeck: sharpener of mill stones
Moulder: brick maker, maker of molds or castings
Mountebank: seller of ineffectual patent medicines
Mourner: professional mourners
Mudlark: sewer cleaner
Nagsman: horse trainer
Naperer: royal servant in charge of table linens
Neatherd: cowherder
Nedeller: Needle maker
Necessary woman: servant responsible for emptying and cleaning chamber pots
Netter: Maker of nets
Olitor: Kitchen gardener
Ostiary: Monastery door keeper
Ostler: innkeeper/taverner, or a horse groom
Owler: sheep or wool smuggler
Packer: packs goods for sale
Packman: itinerant salesman
Page: youth being trained as a squire to a knight
Paling Man: seller or eels
Palister: official who oversees the security and maintenance of parks
Pannifex: cloth worker
Pantler: Butler
Pardoner: seller of indulgences
Pargeter: applied ornamental plaster to buildings
Pasteler: Pastry chef
Pastor: Shepherd
Pedascule: schoolmaster
Pelterer: One who worked with animal skins
Perchemear: Maker of parchment
Peregrinator: Itinerant wanderer
Peruker: Wig maker
Pessoner: Fish monger
Pewterer: Pewter smith
Pigman: Crockery seller
Piker: tramp or vagrant
Piller: robber
Pinder: dog catcher
Piner: laborer
Piper: Innkeeper
Pistor: Baker
Pitman: coal miner
Plaiter: weaver of straw for hats and other articles
Plasterer: deals with the plastering of walls of houses and buildings
Plowman: Works fields with a plow
Plowwright: smith specializing in plows
Plumer: maker or dealer of feathers
Polentier: Poultry dealer
Poller/Powler: Barber
Ponderator: inspector of weights and measures
Potato Badger: seller of potatoes
Preceptress: school mistress
Prothonary: law clerk
Publican: innkeeper
Punky: Chimney Sweep
Purefinder: old women and young girls who collected dog droppings for tanning leather
Raffman: a junk dealer
Ragman: a collector and seller of old clothes and rags
Raker: street sanitation worker
Ratoner: rat catcher
Rattlewatch: town watchman
Redsmith: goldsmith
Reeder: a thatcher who worked with reeds
Registrar: official in charge of recording documents such as land purchases and births
Renovator: tailor
Roper: maker of rope or nets
Rugman: dealer in rugs
Runner: smuggler
Saddler: Makes saddles and other horse equipment
Salter/Saucer: one who made or dealt in salt
Sandesman: ambassador or messenger
Sawyer: saws timbers to boards
Scaleraker/Scavenger: One paid by a local church to keep the streets around it clean
Scavelman: one paid to keep waterways and ditches clean
Scribe: clerk
Scrivener: clerk, notary
Scutcher: flax worker
Scullion/Scullery maid: servant who performed all the menial tasks
Seedsman: seller of seed
Sempster: seamstress
Seneschal: senior steward at a manor
Sewster: seamstress
Sheargrinder: sharpened scissors and shears, as well as other blades
Shepherd: Tends sheep
Shepster: dressmaker
Shrager: one who trimmed and pruned trees
Shrieve: sheriff
Shuster: shoe maker
Simpler: herbalist
Sissor: tailor
Skepper/Skelper: one who made and sold beehives
Skinner: dealer in hides
Soper: soap maker
Solicitor: lawyer
Sortor: tailor
Souter: shoe maker
Spallier: tin worker
Spicer: grocer or dealer in spices
Spinner: weaver who works on a loom and spins yarn
Stabler: ostler
Stationer: bookseller, seller of paper and writing instruments
Stay Maker: corset maker
Step Boy: servant who assists people in and out of coaches
Steward: manager of property
Stockinger: knitter, weaver or dealer in stockings
Sumner: summoner or apparitor; bailsman
Swain: herdsman
Thatcher: roofer
Tiler: makes and installs roof tiles
Tunner: one employed by breweries to fill ale casks (tuns) with ale
Vintner: Produces wine
Wainwright: Wagonmaker
Wheelwright: makes and repairs wheels for carts and wagons
Feel free to add to the list! Always looking to expand!
