What did people do in a Medieval City?

What did people do in the Middle Ages? If you meet a random person on the street, what is his likely occupation? Or did people work at all? Were the Middle Ages some Communist utopia, where everybody laid around all day and things were magically produced by fairies?

Of course not. They didn't have electronics engineers and computer programmers, but they did have coopers, bakers, blacksmiths, and many other jobs that made their society go around. If you do a little research, there were tons of medieval occupations. Luckily, I've done it for you, so you don't have to!

In the following list, I have made a link to the online version of Webster's Dictionary, so you can find out what things are. In some cases, the definition is also included locally. I am slowly making local definitions for all these occupations, for your convenience.

Is there something on this page you'd like to see that isn't here? Send me an email at svincent@svincent.com -- let me know what you were looking for -- maybe I can help. Also, do you know more occupations that aren't on this list? Do you have definitions that I'm missing? Send them in! I'd love to improve this page!

Open Questions

This site gets me a fair few questions via email, many of which I can just answer. Some of them have stumped me. This is my current list of stumpers:

currently none!

If you can answer any of these, or even have some clues, mail me. I and my questioners would be ever grateful.

Governmental Occupations

These are the people who run things. They keep society moving smoothly, if they're good at what they do, and can bring society to a crunching halt, if they're not. Rife for corruption, government officials can play a significant role in many campaigns.

bailiff - the man who makes arrests and executions. Bailiff was not primarily used for the office of policeman. Etymologically, bailiffs were those in charge of the bailey - in effect, manager of the craftsmen and servants in a castle or manor house.

- the man who makes arrests and executions. Bailiff was not primarily used for the office of policeman. Etymologically, bailiffs were those in charge of the bailey - in effect, manager of the craftsmen and servants in a castle or manor house. catchpole - literally 'chicken catcher', one who finds and brings in debtors.

- literally 'chicken catcher', one who finds and brings in debtors. chancellor - a secretary to a noble or royal

- a secretary to a noble or royal constable - the warden of a town or castle

- the warden of a town or castle diplomat - the person who negotiates with foreign nations

- the person who negotiates with foreign nations emperor - the ruler of an empire

- the ruler of an empire exchequer - the man responsible for the king's revenue

- the man responsible for the king's revenue hayward - an officer in charge of fences and hedges

- an officer in charge of fences and hedges herald - had two responsibilities: a man in charge of making pronouncements and proclamations, and one who is an expert in the field of heraldry (the various insignias used by the rich to identify themselves.) These two responsibilities were one in the same. Medieval Europeans wouldn't have thought it possible to separate them; much less would they have considered them separate roles.

- had two responsibilities: a man in charge of making pronouncements and proclamations, and one who is an expert in the field of heraldry (the various insignias used by the rich to identify themselves.) These two responsibilities were one in the same. Medieval Europeans wouldn't have thought it possible to separate them; much less would they have considered them separate roles. jailer - the man responsible for a jail: he keeps the criminals from getting out

- the man responsible for a jail: he keeps the criminals from getting out judge - a man who is responsible for deciding questions brought to court

- a man who is responsible for deciding questions brought to court king - ruler of a kingdom

- ruler of a kingdom knight

lady

liner - an officer in charge of tracing property boundaries in the city

- an officer in charge of tracing property boundaries in the city master of the revels - official in charge of court entertainment, and later of the theaters [note: the first Master of the Revels was not appointed until Henry VII in the 15th century]

- official in charge of court entertainment, and later of the theaters [note: the first Master of the Revels was not appointed until Henry VII in the 15th century] nobleman

prince

pursuivant - officer of arms, ranks below herald, similar duties

- officer of arms, ranks below herald, similar duties reeve - church warden. Note that the word 'reeve' applies to much more than the Church. Reeves usually came out to be combination administrators and business managers of estates, towns and small territories (i.e. shires) - something like a chief bailiff.

- church warden. Note that the word 'reeve' applies to much more than the Church. Reeves usually came out to be combination administrators and business managers of estates, towns and small territories (i.e. shires) - something like a chief bailiff. sherrif

summoner - officer of the court who serves subpoenas (see also religious version)

- officer of the court who serves subpoenas (see also religious version) watchman

woodward - the keeper of a forest

Military Occupations

Who keeps the country safe from encroaching enemies and wild monsters? Why, the military, of course. These brave men - and sometimes women train against the possibility that they'll have to protect their country with their lives.

Arbalestier - one who fires an arbalest (a type of metal crossbow)

- one who fires an arbalest (a type of metal crossbow) archer - one who shoots arrows

- one who shoots arrows bowman

camp follower - people following an army, making money off of the soldiers

- people following an army, making money off of the soldiers cannoneer

crossbowman

drummer

engineer

guardsman

halberdier

Knifeman - one skilled with a knife; specifically, a soldier trained to disembowel horses

- one skilled with a knife; specifically, a soldier trained to disembowel horses mercenary

pikeman

pioneer - an early term for military engineer

- an early term for military engineer sapper - specialist in field fortifications

- specialist in field fortifications scout

siege engineer

sergeant

sergeant-at-arms

spearman

spy

Criminal Occupations

Wherever there is society, there are criminals. These occupations include only the so-called "professional criminal": it ignores those people who are corrupt at every level of society who has a legal "front", from kings to beggars.

boothaler - marauder, plunderer

- marauder, plunderer burglar - one who breaks into, and steals things from, other people's houses. (If you break into and steal stuff from your own house, you're just a nut.)

- one who breaks into, and steals things from, other people's houses. (If you break into and steal stuff from your own house, you're just a nut.) diver - fig. a pickpocket

- fig. a pickpocket fence - one who trades in stolen goods

- one who trades in stolen goods footpad - one who robs pedestrians

- one who robs pedestrians outlaw - a man wanted by the law

- a man wanted by the law pickpocket - one who picks pockets

- one who picks pockets poacher - one who illegally kills animals, usually on somebody else's land

- one who illegally kills animals, usually on somebody else's land silk-snatcher - one who steals bonnets

- one who steals bonnets stewsman - probably a brothel keeper - "since the words stew and stewholder both mean a bawd, I'm guessing that a stewsman would be a brothel-keeper as well. Whether bawdry counts as a criminal activity varies at different times and places."

- probably a brothel keeper - "since the words stew and stewholder both mean a bawd, I'm guessing that a stewsman would be a brothel-keeper as well. Whether bawdry counts as a criminal activity varies at different times and places." thimblerigger - a professional sharper who runs a thimblerig (a game in which a pea is ostensibly hidden under a thimble and players guess which thimble it is under)

Religious Occupations

If Government officials run the affairs of earthly beings, then those occupied with religious pursuits mediate between earth and the gods.

Priests are relatively common in role playing games. These men and women are the people behind the church: not typically "adventuring priests", but vitally important to the church nonetheless.

abbess - superior of a convent

- superior of a convent abbot - superior of a monastery

- superior of a monastery almoner - a distributer of money and food to the poor

- a distributer of money and food to the poor archbishop

beadle - church official -- ushers preserves order at sermons

- church official -- ushers preserves order at sermons beguine - member of certain Netherland lay sisterhoods

- member of certain Netherland lay sisterhoods bishop

canon - a prebend attached to a cathedral (the definition is somewhat wider, but that's the most common usage)

- a prebend attached to a cathedral (the definition is somewhat wider, but that's the most common usage) cantor - a choir leader in churches, the man who sings hymns and leads the congregation in prayer in a synagogue

- a choir leader in churches, the man who sings hymns and leads the congregation in prayer in a synagogue cardinal

chantry priest - a priest employed to say prayers for the dead; often taught on the side (thus so-called chantry schools)

- a priest employed to say prayers for the dead; often taught on the side (thus so-called chantry schools) chaplain

clark - see clerk

- see clerk clerk - a priest

- a priest curate - priest in charge of a church

- priest in charge of a church friar - a wandering monk, especially a Franciscan

- a wandering monk, especially a Franciscan metropolitan - a bishop in charge of other bishops; an archbishop

- a bishop in charge of other bishops; an archbishop monk

nun

ostiary - a church's doorkeeper

- a church's doorkeeper palmer - a pilgrim who's been to the Holy Land

- a pilgrim who's been to the Holy Land pardoner - seller of indulgences

- seller of indulgences parish priest

pilgrim -

- pope

priest

primate - head of the Church in a country or region (i.e. the Archbishop of Canterbury was Primate of England)

- head of the Church in a country or region (i.e. the Archbishop of Canterbury was Primate of England) sacristan - a person in charge of the relics and religious items of a church

- a person in charge of the relics and religious items of a church sexton - minor church officer - rings bells, digs graves

- minor church officer - rings bells, digs graves summoner - officer who brings people to episcopal courts (see also government version)

Merchants

In a society based on trade - either with hard currency or barter, there are always those who spend their lives in the pursuit of selling things to others.

Note that most craftsmen also sell the results of their labor, farmers typically must sell their crops themselves, people in service trades often must hawk their own wares. This section does not include them. It includes only those people who spend their entire lives devoted to selling things, and nothing more.

acater - a provisioner (food)

- a provisioner (food) alewife - a female alehouse keeper

- a female alehouse keeper apothecary - a preparer and merchant for drugs and medicines

- a preparer and merchant for drugs and medicines banker

beer seller

boothman - one who sells grains

- one who sells grains chapman - travelling merchant

- travelling merchant collier - one who makes or sells charcoal (later coal) [can also fit under craftsmen]

- one who makes or sells charcoal (later coal) [can also fit under craftsmen] colporteur - seller of religious books

- seller of religious books costermonger - fruit seller

- fruit seller drover - one who drives sheep or cattle to market

- one who drives sheep or cattle to market eggler - an egg-merchant

- an egg-merchant fishmonger

fruiterer - a seller of fresh fruit

- a seller of fresh fruit fruitier - fruitseller

- fruitseller fueller - one who sells charcoal, wood, or other fuels

- one who sells charcoal, wood, or other fuels glass seller

greengrocer - seller of vegetables and fruits

- seller of vegetables and fruits grocer

harberdasher - seller of men's clothing

- seller of men's clothing hay merchant

hetheleder - one who sells heather as fuel

- one who sells heather as fuel innkeeper

ironmonger - one who sells things made of iron

- one who sells things made of iron lighterman - one who ferries goods from ship to shore on a small boat

- one who ferries goods from ship to shore on a small boat linen-draper - one who deals in linens, calicos, etc.

- one who deals in linens, calicos, etc. mercer - a dealer in expensive clothing (silk, etc.)

- a dealer in expensive clothing (silk, etc.) merchant

milkmaid - a female servant who milks cows

- a female servant who milks cows oil merchant

old-clothes dealer

oynter - an oil-merchant

- an oil-merchant peddler

pie seller

plumer - a dealer in feathers

- a dealer in feathers poulter - seller of poultry

- seller of poultry shrimper - one who catches shrimp

- one who catches shrimp skinner - a dealer in furs and skins (essentially, the same thing as a furrier)

- a dealer in furs and skins (essentially, the same thing as a furrier) spice merchant

spicer - grocer or dealer in spices

- grocer or dealer in spices stationer - seller of books, etc.; also, a copyist

- seller of books, etc.; also, a copyist taverner - innkeeper

- innkeeper thresher - one who thrashes grain, separating it from straw

- one who thrashes grain, separating it from straw unguentary - one who sells unguents

- one who sells unguents waferer - confectioner (a dealer in 'wafers', a kind of cake)

- confectioner (a dealer in 'wafers', a kind of cake) waterseller

weirkeeper - a keeper of fish traps

- a keeper of fish traps wine seller

wood seller

woodmonger - a seller of fuel wood

- a seller of fuel wood wool stapler - one who buys and sells wool wholesale

In any society, there is the need for spare time. And what did people do before television? Well, they mostly sang songs, told stories, and danced. From this, some professional entertainers developed.

Also included in this section are artists: those who devote their lives to creating works of beauty and expressiveness. There is enormous overlap between artists and entertainers... I won't get into the argument of whether art should be used to entertain or express the artist's true feelings. That's beyond my scope here, certainly.

bard - a Welsh minstrel

- a Welsh minstrel barker - one who advertises at the entrance to a show

- one who advertises at the entrance to a show bear-ward - the owner of a performing bear

- the owner of a performing bear fiddler - this is an unfair translation, "geiger" is applied to any player of bowed and stringed instruments

- this is an unfair translation, "geiger" is applied to any player of bowed and stringed instruments fool

fresco painter

glasspainter

harper

illuminator

jester

limner - illuminator of books

- illuminator of books lutenist - a lute player

- a lute player minnesinger - a German minstrel who specialized in love songs

- a German minstrel who specialized in love songs mummer - actor, specifically the predecessors to mimes

- actor, specifically the predecessors to mimes musician

nakerer - a player of the naker a small kettle drum

- a player of the a small kettle drum organist

painter - portraits and landscapes

- portraits and landscapes piper

player

playwright

poet

sculptor

singer

troubadour - most properly a minstrel from the southern part of France (though it can be used of any minstrel who specializes in romances).

- most properly a minstrel from the southern part of France (though it can be used of any minstrel who specializes in romances). tumbler

writer

Farming and Workers with Flora and Fauna

Ah -- the farmers. Without them, we'd starve. Wresting sustenence from the very earth itself. There's a large number of occupations associated with farming: you need people to watch the animals, work the fields. In fact, probably most people in a medieval society were farmers.

Also included are hunters and gatherers: those who travel into nature and grab things to eat, as well as all those who work with animals.

ackerman(acreman) - an oxherder

- an oxherder falconer - breeds, trains, hunts with falcons

- breeds, trains, hunts with falcons farmer

fewterer - one who keeps the hunting dogs [put it in whatever category you put falconers and hawkers]

- one who keeps the hunting dogs [put it in whatever category you put falconers and hawkers] fisherman

forester - game warden or forest ranger

- game warden or forest ranger fowler - one who hunts for wildfowl

- one who hunts for wildfowl gamekeeper

goatherd - one who looks after a herd of goats

- one who looks after a herd of goats hawker - breeds, trains, hunts with hawks

- breeds, trains, hunts with hawks hayward - a tender of hedges

- a tender of hedges horse trainer

hunter

huntsman

master of hounds

molecatcher

ostler - cares for horses

- cares for horses oyster raker - worker on an oyster fishing boat

- worker on an oyster fishing boat oysterer - one who catches oysters

- one who catches oysters parker - caretaker of a park

- caretaker of a park plowman

rat catcher

reaper

sheepshearer

shepherd - one who looks after a herd of sheep

- one who looks after a herd of sheep swineherd - one who looks after a herd of swine (sometimes pigherd)

- one who looks after a herd of swine (sometimes pigherd) thresher

tillerman

trapper

woolcomber

woolman - sorts wool into differing grades

Scholars

They may have called it the dark ages for lack of scientific output, but there were still people interested in the world around them, willing to poke and prod it until something broke.

alchemist - a medieval chemist

- a medieval chemist astrologer

astronomer

bearleader - a travelling tutor (a silly name) - related to the figurative use of the word bear to describe a boor.

- a travelling tutor (a silly name) - related to the figurative use of the word bear to describe a boor. dean

librarian

mathematician

philosopher

professor

scholar

scrivener - scribe

- scribe tutor

theologian - a scholar specializing in the study of God and doctorine

Sailors

The lure of the sea, the crash of the waves: a boat-filled life was the norm for a great many medieval people. Some sailed on rivers, some on the ocean. Exciting and dangerous trade missions with far-off empires, exploring strange new places, and always coming back home to tell exciting stories in the local tavern.

bargeman

boatman

canaller - canal boat worker

- canal boat worker ferryman

hobbler - boat tower on a river or canal

- boat tower on a river or canal lighter man - worker on a flat-bottomed boat

- worker on a flat-bottomed boat mariner

navigator

pilot

sailor

sea captain

ship's captain

shipchandler - ship provisioner

- ship provisioner waterman - riverboat sailor

Regular Folks

One of the problems with coming up with a list of Medieval Occupations is that lots of people in a feudal economy didn't have occupations at all. They were just tenants of other folks. Also, there are in any society, a large number of homeless and impoverished.

This section deals with people like that.

There's a fun story about a peasant, who had a bit of an adventure, at Stefan's Florilegium.

I've also heard that the book A Medieval Life: Cecilia Penifader of Brigstock, c. 1297-1344, by Judith Bennett, is recommended by some schools. It reconstructs the life of Cecilia Penifader, a medieval peasant, from various legal records. I've never read it, but it seems to get good reviews!

begger

buffoon - publically amusing person

- publically amusing person clown - a peasant

- a peasant crofter - tenant of a small piece of land

- tenant of a small piece of land dwarf

franklin - a freeholder

- a freeholder gardner - one who gardens

- one who gardens hermit

housewife

jew - a class of their own in the Medieval Period

- a class of their own in the Medieval Period landlord

palmer - one who had been, or pretended to have been, to the Holy Land

- one who had been, or pretended to have been, to the Holy Land peasant

pilgrim

spinster

tenter - an unskilled workman's assistant

Craftsmen

Game worlds typically have armorers and blacksmiths, but then it breaks down, and everything else is available from the marketplace or the "general store". Add a bit of spice to a campaign by having the player's harness become damaged, and have to deal with the local harness maker - who is also the town shoemaker and his loud wife!

Most of the occupations on this list are craftsmen and service occupations. Because of this, I have seperated out the most common craftsmen from the bulk of the list, so that the gentle reader can make sense of it. The list of common occupations was derived from the tax list for Paris in 1292, from the book Life in a Medieval City, by Francis and Joseph Gies. The number indicates how many there in the city.

Common Craftsmen - sorted by frequency

366 - shoemaker - one who makes and repairs shoes

- one who makes and repairs shoes 214 - furrier - one who makes and repairs goods made of furs - esp. clothes

- one who makes and repairs goods made of furs - esp. clothes 197 - tailor - one who makes and repairs clothing

- one who makes and repairs clothing 131 - jeweler - maker of jewelry

- maker of jewelry 106 - pastrycook - baker specializing in pastries

- baker specializing in pastries 104 - mason - bricklayer

- bricklayer 95 - carpenter - one who constructs things from wood

- one who constructs things from wood 86 - weaver - weaver of cloth

- weaver of cloth 71 - chandler - one who makes candles, also grocer. Often associated with ships (see shipchandler)

- one who makes candles, also grocer. Often associated with ships (see shipchandler) 70 - cooper - one who makes and repairs barrels and tubs

- one who makes and repairs barrels and tubs 62 - baker - one who makes bread and other baked goods

- one who makes bread and other baked goods 58 - scabbard maker - maker of scabbards

- maker of scabbards 54 - hatmaker - maker of hats

- maker of hats 51 - saddler - maker of saddles

- maker of saddles 51 - chicken butcher - butcher of chickens

- butcher of chickens 45 - purse maker - maker of purses

- maker of purses 42 - meat butcher - butcher of all sorts of meats, esp beef

- butcher of all sorts of meats, esp beef 36 - buckle maker - maker of buckles

- maker of buckles 34 - blacksmith - one who works with iron to form metal implements: esp farm tools.

- one who works with iron to form metal implements: esp farm tools. 28 - roofer - one who makes and repairs roofs

- one who makes and repairs roofs 27 - locksmith - one who makes and repairs locks

- one who makes and repairs locks 26 - ropemaker - maker of rope

- maker of rope 24 - tanner - preparer of leather

- preparer of leather 24 - rugmaker - maker of rugs

- maker of rugs 24 - harness maker - maker of harnesses

- maker of harnesses 23 - bleacher

22 - cutler - one who makes and repairs cutlery

- one who makes and repairs cutlery 21 - glover - a glovemaker

Less common craftsmen - sorted alphabetically

accoutrement maker - makes military accessories

- makes military accessories alabasterer - worker in alabaster

- worker in alabaster architect - a designer of buildings and other constructions

- a designer of buildings and other constructions arkwright - a maker of "arks" -- wooden chests or coffers

- a maker of "arks" -- wooden chests or coffers armorer

balancemaker

basketmaker

beekeeper - also known as apiarist

- also known as apiarist beerbrewer

bellfounder

bellmaker - these are the little bells that go on sleighs and clothing, as opposed to the large civic bells cast by the bellfounder

- these are the little bells that go on sleighs and clothing, as opposed to the large civic bells cast by the bellfounder besom maker - one who makes brooms (known as besoms in the middle ages: 'broom' was the name of the plant use to make them)

- one who makes brooms (known as besoms in the middle ages: 'broom' was the name of the plant use to make them) billier - axe-maker

- axe-maker blockcutter - for block printing

- for block printing bodger - itinerant wood turners (read more)

- itinerant wood turners (read more) bonecarver

bookbinder

bookprinter

bottelier - maker of leather bottles

- maker of leather bottles bowyer - maker of bows

- maker of bows brazier - makes brassware

- makes brassware brewer

bricker - brick baker, not mason

- brick baker, not mason bricker - brick-maker

- brick-maker bricklayer

broderer - embroiderer

- embroiderer bronzefounder

broom-dasher - maker of brooms

- maker of brooms brushbinder

builder

buttonmaker

cabinetmaker

campaner - maker of large bells (church-bells, for example)

- maker of large bells (church-bells, for example) canvasser - canvas-maker

- canvas-maker carder - one who cards wool (combs out wool in preparation for spinning it)

- one who cards wool (combs out wool in preparation for spinning it) cardmaker

cartwright

chainmaker

charcoalburner

cheesemaker

clockmaker

clothier

cobbler - shoe maker

- shoe maker coiner

combmaker

compasssmith

confectioner

coppersmith, redsmith - a worker in copper and brass

- a worker in copper and brass cordwainer - worker in fine leather

- worker in fine leather corsetier - maker of corsets and other undergarments

- maker of corsets and other undergarments currier - one who cures leather

- one who cures leather delver - ditchdigger

- ditchdigger diamantaire - diamond-cutter (actually, diamond-cutting wasn't discovered until after the Middle Ages, but once it was diamantaires usually had their own guilds)

- diamond-cutter (actually, diamond-cutting wasn't discovered until after the Middle Ages, but once it was diamantaires usually had their own guilds) disher - a potter who makes dishes

- a potter who makes dishes draper - Originally, drapers were clothiers, though today the British use the word for a dry goods merchant.

- Originally, drapers were clothiers, though today the British use the word for a dry goods merchant. drycooper

drywaller

dyer - one who dyes cloth

- one who dyes cloth embroiderer - one who decorates fabric with stitched designs

- one who decorates fabric with stitched designs engraver - for printing, not to decorate items

- for printing, not to decorate items fabricshearer - trims the nap and makes pleats for customers

- trims the nap and makes pleats for customers feltmaker

fewtrer - felt-maker

- felt-maker fletcher - maker of arrows

- maker of arrows founder - foundryman

- foundryman fuller - cloth worker who shrinks, beats, presses cloth

- cloth worker who shrinks, beats, presses cloth fuller - someone who cleans and thickens cloth by beating it

- someone who cleans and thickens cloth by beating it furniture maker

gemcutter

gilder - one who gilds (applies gold leaf to something)

- one who gilds (applies gold leaf to something) girdler - leather worker who made girdles and belts, chiefly for the Army

- leather worker who made girdles and belts, chiefly for the Army girdler - belt-maker

- belt-maker glassblower - one who makes glass objects by blowing

- one who makes glass objects by blowing glazier - maker of stained glass

- maker of stained glass goldbeater - one who makes gold foil

- one who makes gold foil goldsmith - a worker in precious metals. In the Middle Ages, all people who worked in precious metals were called goldsmiths; the term silversmith is a much later word.

- a worker in precious metals. In the Middle Ages, all people who worked in precious metals were called goldsmiths; the term silversmith is a much later word. gravedigger

grinder - knife sharpener

- knife sharpener gunsmith

gunstocker

hacker - hoe-maker

- hoe-maker hatter - one who makes and repairs hats

- one who makes and repairs hats horner - craftsman who works in horn -- spoons, combs, musical instruments

- craftsman who works in horn -- spoons, combs, musical instruments ivorist - an ivory-carver

- an ivory-carver joiner - skilled carpenter

- skilled carpenter knacker - harness-maker

- harness-maker knapper - a worker in flint

- a worker in flint knifesmith

lacemaker

lampwright - maker of lamps and lanterns

- maker of lamps and lanterns lancier - a maker of lances

- a maker of lances lanternmaker

lapidary - worker with precious stones -- usu. other than diamonds

- worker with precious stones -- usu. other than diamonds latoner - worker in brass and latten (a brass-like alloy)

- worker in brass and latten (a brass-like alloy) leadworker

lensgrinder

limner - someone who illuminates manuscripts

- someone who illuminates manuscripts linen-armorer - one who makes cloth armor [same as a merchant taylor]

- one who makes cloth armor [same as a merchant taylor] linener - a shirt maker [also, a linen-draper]

- a shirt maker [also, a linen-draper] linenspinner

lorimer - maker of horse gear

- maker of horse gear lutemaker

luthier - a maker of stringed instruments (lutes, guitars, etc.)

- a maker of stringed instruments (lutes, guitars, etc.) mailer - enameller -- not a maker of armor

- enameller -- not a maker of armor mailmaker

malemaker - a maker of leather trunks

- a maker of leather trunks mapmaker - also known as cartographer

- also known as cartographer marler - one who digs 'marl', a type of soil used as fertilizer.

- one who digs 'marl', a type of soil used as fertilizer. marleywoman - a maker of marli, a type of fabric (gauze used for embroidery). Note that embroidery on this material is also known as marli.

- a maker of marli, a type of fabric (gauze used for embroidery). Note that embroidery on this material is also known as marli. master builder - chief architect

- chief architect merchant taylor - tailors and "linen armourers"; they made the padded tunics soldiers would wear under metal armor

- tailors and "linen armourers"; they made the padded tunics soldiers would wear under metal armor milliner - maker of womens' hats and clothing

- maker of womens' hats and clothing miner

miniaturist - painter of miniatures (small paintings usually found on icons or in books)

- painter of miniatures (small paintings usually found on icons or in books) minter, mintmaster, moneyer - one who mints coins

- one who mints coins mirrorer - one who makes mirrors?

- one who makes mirrors? nailmaker

nedeller - maker of needles

- maker of needles netmaker

oilmaker

papermaker

parchmenter

parchmenter - a parchment-maker

- a parchment-maker pasteler - a pastry-maker

- a pastry-maker pattenmaker

perukier - a wig-maker [I don't know if the word was used in the Middle Ages; the oldest use of the word peruke I can find is 1548]

- a wig-maker [I don't know if the word was used in the Middle Ages; the oldest use of the word peruke I can find is 1548] pewterer

physician

pinmaker

plasterer

plattner - beat out sheets of metal

- beat out sheets of metal plumber - worker in lead

- worker in lead pointer - lace-maker

- lace-maker poleturner - maker of polearms (spears, pikes, halberds, etc.)

- maker of polearms (spears, pikes, halberds, etc.) pot mender

potter

printer

purser - a purse-maker

- a purse-maker quarryman

quilter - a quilt-maker

- a quilt-maker rectifier - one who distilled alcohol

- one who distilled alcohol reedmaker - a maker of flutes and other wind instruments

- a maker of flutes and other wind instruments roper - maker of ropes, nets

- maker of ropes, nets rugweaver - one who makes rugs

- one who makes rugs sailmaker

saltboiler - makes salt by boiling water

- makes salt by boiling water salter - makes or deals in salt

- makes or deals in salt sawyer - saws timbers to boards

- saws timbers to boards scythesmith

seamstress

shingler - wooden roof tiler

- wooden roof tiler shipwright - a ship builder

- a ship builder siever - a maker of sieves (a picture)

- a maker of sieves (a picture) silkmaid, silkwoman - a woman who makes items out of silk.

- a woman who makes items out of silk. silk-dresser, silk-maker, silk-mercer, silk-dyer, silk-carder - various individuals making silk articles.

- various individuals making silk articles. silversmith

smelter - refines raw ore into pure metals

- refines raw ore into pure metals smith - blacksmith

- blacksmith spectaclesmaker

spooner - a spoon-maker

- a spoon-maker spurrer - maker of spurs

- maker of spurs stonecarver

stonecutter

swordsmith

tallowchandler

tapestrymaker

tapicer - tapestry maker

- tapestry maker tasseler - one who makes tassels

- one who makes tassels thacker, thatcher - one who covers roofs with thatch

- one who covers roofs with thatch thonger - maker of leather straps or laces

- maker of leather straps or laces threadmaker

tile-burner - one who forms clay into tiles and bricks

- one who forms clay into tiles and bricks tiler, tile-theeker, tyler - one who roofs with tile

- one who roofs with tile tile maker - tile-maker

- tile-maker tinker

tinsmith

treen maker - one who makes various small wood items

- one who makes various small wood items turner - lathe worker (makes turned wooden objects, like chair legs)

- lathe worker (makes turned wooden objects, like chair legs) typefounder

upholder - an upholsterer

- an upholsterer vaginarius - scabbard-maker (pl. vaginarii)

- scabbard-maker (pl. vaginarii) vintner - a winemaker

- a winemaker waxchandler

webber - weaver

- weaver wheeler - maker of spinning wheels

- maker of spinning wheels wheelwright - a maker of wheels

- a maker of wheels wiredrawer - maker of gold and silver wire

- maker of gold and silver wire woodcarver

woodcutter

woodturner

Service Occupations

There are many important positions in society for those who do not produce, but serve their fellow man. When they're done their job for the day, there are no new products, no changes in physical objects, but people are moved, jobs get done, and society keeps moving. These are the service workers.

Service workers can play an enormous role in your campaign. All the time, characters need to get their hair cut, have water fetched, or have something written down.

Unfortunately, since this list is so enormous, I've again taken the liberty of separating out the common occupations, again, as defined by the Geis book. The numbers are the count of the occupation in Paris, in 1292.

Common Service Occupations - Sorted by Frequency

199 - maidservant

151 - barber - one who cuts hair, also performed surgery and pulled teeth.

- one who cuts hair, also performed surgery and pulled teeth. 130 - restaurateur - one who owns or runs a restaurant

- one who owns or runs a restaurant 58 - water carrier

43 - laundress - also known as lavendar

- also known as lavendar 42 - porter - one who carries burdens, or one who waits at doors. Probably the former

- one who carries burdens, or one who waits at doors. Probably the former 29 - doctor

26 - bather - owner of a bath

- owner of a bath 24 - copyist - one who copies books and documents -- not all of them can read

Less common service occupations - sorted alphabetically

accomptant - an accountant

- an accountant accoucheur - midwife

- midwife accoucheus - midwife

- midwife accountant - man who does financial bookkeeping

- man who does financial bookkeeping actuary - man who does financial bookkeeping, clerk

- man who does financial bookkeeping, clerk attendent

bagger

bailiff - the man who makes arrests and executions. Bailiff was not primarily used for the office of policeman. Etymologically, bailiffs were those in charge of the bailey - in effect, manager of the craftsmen and servants in a castle or manor house.

- the man who makes arrests and executions. Bailiff was not primarily used for the office of policeman. Etymologically, bailiffs were those in charge of the bailey - in effect, manager of the craftsmen and servants in a castle or manor house. barrister - solicitor or lawyer

- solicitor or lawyer bath attendent

bather - owner of a bath

- owner of a bath bodyservant

butler - one in charge of the buttery (where alcohol was kept)

- one in charge of the buttery (where alcohol was kept) carman - one who drives a vehicle for transporting goods

- one who drives a vehicle for transporting goods carter - one who drives carts

- one who drives carts cartier

carver - the servant who cut the meat

- the servant who cut the meat ceiler - one who installs ceilings

- one who installs ceilings cellarer - one in charge of the wine cellar

- one in charge of the wine cellar chamberlain - a private attendant who waits on his lord in his bedchamber

- a private attendant who waits on his lord in his bedchamber chimney sweep - one who cleans chimneys and smokestacks.

- one who cleans chimneys and smokestacks. chirurgeon - surgeon

- surgeon clouter - one who fixes things, a tinkerer

- one who fixes things, a tinkerer cook - one who cooks, especially food.

- one who cooks, especially food. cowherd - one who looks after a herd of cows. A medieval cowboy, as it were.

- one who looks after a herd of cows. A medieval cowboy, as it were. currier - see tanner

- see tanner dairymaid

dapifer - a servant who brings the meat to the table

- a servant who brings the meat to the table dentist

ditcher - one who digs ditches

- one who digs ditches diver - one who dives for a living.

- one who dives for a living. dog trainer

drayman - cart driver

- cart driver dung carter

executioner

famulus - "a servant or attendant, esp. of a scholar or a magician" (Random House Dictionary of the English Language)

- "a servant or attendant, esp. of a scholar or a magician" (Random House Dictionary of the English Language) farrier - maker of tack, esp. horeshoes; also a horse-veteranarian

- maker of tack, esp. horeshoes; also a horse-veteranarian groom - one who takes care of the horses

- one who takes care of the horses harlot - vagabond, beggar, rogue, 14th century male servant, attendant or menial, and 15th century, loose woman

- vagabond, beggar, rogue, 14th century male servant, attendant or menial, and 15th century, loose woman horseleech - veterinarian, farrier

- veterinarian, farrier hurdle maker - made 'wattle fences' for sheep

- made 'wattle fences' for sheep lawyer - a master of the law.

- a master of the law. link boy - boy who will carry a torch to guide people through the night

- boy who will carry a torch to guide people through the night link man - like a link boy, only older

- like a link boy, only older maid - a female household servant. A maid is always female; the word literally means virgin.

- a female household servant. A maid is always female; the word literally means virgin. marshal - a horse tender

- a horse tender midwife - humorously known as a babycatcher

- humorously known as a babycatcher miller - the person who turns grains into flour.

- the person who turns grains into flour. napier - the person who manages royal linens

- the person who manages royal linens nurse

panter - keeper of the pantry

- keeper of the pantry paperer - needlemaking industry -- inserted needles into paper to prepare for selling

- needlemaking industry -- inserted needles into paper to prepare for selling pavior - one who lays pavement

- one who lays pavement pavyler - put up pavilions/tents

- put up pavilions/tents pissprophet - doctors who would diagnose disease from a patient's urine, specifically from the sight, smell, and taste of the urine.

- doctors who would diagnose disease from a patient's urine, specifically from the sight, smell, and taste of the urine. potboy - cleans out chamber pots

- cleans out chamber pots privycleaner

procurator - or proctor, this is a kind of legal agent or representative

- or proctor, this is a kind of legal agent or representative prostitute - one who sells sex

- one who sells sex quartermaster

ragpicker - sorts through leftover rags, find re-usable ones

- sorts through leftover rags, find re-usable ones raker - street sanitation worker

- street sanitation worker riveter - one who rivets (a rivet being a nail designed to secure metal to metal)

- one who rivets (a rivet being a nail designed to secure metal to metal) scullion - the bottom-rung servant in a household

- the bottom-rung servant in a household seneschal - senior steward

- senior steward solicitor - lawyer

- lawyer sperviter - a keeper of sparrow-hawks

- a keeper of sparrow-hawks stainer - one who stains wood

- one who stains wood stillroom maid

surgeon

tapster - one who draws ale, etc. at an inn; innkeeper/bartender/barmaid

- one who draws ale, etc. at an inn; innkeeper/bartender/barmaid teamster - one who drives a team of oxen or horses

- one who drives a team of oxen or horses trencherman - carver, trench-digger

- carver, trench-digger userer - a moneylender, specifically a Jewish moneylender (the only people allowed to hold such a job in the Middle Ages)

- a moneylender, specifically a Jewish moneylender (the only people allowed to hold such a job in the Middle Ages) wagoner - wagon or cart driver

- wagon or cart driver waller - one who builds walls

- one who builds walls wattler - made 'wattle fences' for sheep

- made 'wattle fences' for sheep weeper

wetnurse

Other

These are occupations that I can't identify. Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks!

basinbeater - ? a maker of metal basins ?

- ? a maker of metal basins ? belter - ? maker of belts ?

- ? maker of belts ? fool for money - ?

- ? gluttonous fool - ?

- ? nailer - ? one who makes nails ?

- ? one who makes nails ? rivener - ?

- ? tentsman - ?

- ? terrazo grinder/mosaic layer - ?

- ? thimbler - ?

Credits

Some of this material comes from Stefan's Florilegium, an online archive of interesting articles from the SCA's newsgroup, The Rialto (at rec.org.sca).

A ton of definitions and editorial help were provided by Jared Oakes. Thanks!

Some definitions were provided by Ryan Ramage. Thanks!

Some of the definitions came from A List of Occupations

Adminstrative Details...

This page can be found on the Internet at http://www.svincent.com/MagicJar/Economics/MedievalOccupations.html.