Abbreviations Used On Census Returns
England & Wales 1841-1891

In the course of copying out their returns, the census enumerators were given permission to use certain abbreviations for occupations.
This practice was most extensive in 1841, and gradually diminished thereafter. By 1871 the only abbreviation mentioned was 'Ag. Lab.' for agricultural labourer. In 1881 a more general instruction was given - such contractions may be used as 'ag. lab.' for agricultural labourer, but care must be taken that the contractions used are such as will be readily understood. ( www.gendocs.demon.co.uk/abbrcen.html)

Ag. Lab. ~ Agricultural Labourer (1841-81 Census)
Ap. ~ Apprentice (1841-61 Census)
Army ~ Members of HM land forces of whatever rank (1841 Census)
Cl. ~ Clerk (1841-61 Census)
F.S. ~ Female Servant (1841 Census)
H.P. ~ Members of HM armed forces on half-pay (1841 Census)
Ind. ~ Independent - people living on their own means (1841 Census)
J. ~ Journeyman (1841 Census)
M. ~ Manufacturer (1841 Census)
m. ~ Maker - as in 'Shoe m.' (1841 Census)
M.S. ~ Male Servant (1841 Census)
Navy ~ Members of HM naval forces, including marines, of whatever rank (1841 Census)
P. ~ Pensioner in HM armed forces (1841 Census)
Rail. Lab. ~ Railway Labourer (1841 Census)
Serv. ~ Servant (1841 Census)
Sh. ~ Shopman (1841 Census)

 

 

Old Trades, Jobs and Professions

ALE-DRAPER - keeper of an ale-house.
ALNAGER - examiner of wool cloth for quality and measurement.
ARKWRIGHT - chest, box or coffer maker.
ASHBURNER - person who kibbled or burned lime for use on fields or iron-making. [Cumbria]
BANDSTER - sheaf binder.
BAXTER - baker.
BODGER - turned wooden furniture legs. Also maker of furniture in 'green wood' [Cumbria].
BOLTER - sifted meal.
BONDAGER - a female worker who worked in the fields as part of a tenancy agreement. Term confined to Northumberland and Scotland.
BOOT / SHOE CLICKER This was one of the skilled and best paid jobs in the shoe industry. A clicker CUT out the leather for the different parts that made up the shoe and the term comes from the sound made when carrying out the job.
BOTCHER - a tailor or cobbler who mends and repairs.
BOTTOM-SAWYER [and TOP] - refers to old sawing pits where timber was cut with long saws. The trunk was placed across the pit with one man standing above and the second below,
BROOM SQUIRES / SQUARERS - makers of brooms and besoms.
CHAPMAN - traders who bought and sold; usually buying in towns and selling to country folk.
CHEAPJACK - a travelling hawker who offered bargain tools, cutlery and utensils.
COOPER - an obvious one, this, as coopers are still around. They were/are makers and repairers of wooden casks and barrels.
COSTERMONGER - an appleseller, but widely used to describe people selling fruit, veg, and even fish, in the street.
DROVER - moved herds and flocks across the land to markets along drove roads [which are still visible in many upland areas]. The animals would rest at 'stances' and be collected at 'trysts' which sometimes developed into markets.
HIGGLER - bought dairy and poultry produce from country folk and - there are two theories here - either exchanged them for small goods, or sold them at market on behalf of the food producer.
HUFFLER - labourer who offered services to help a canal boat through a flight of locks.
HURDLER - in this case not the sportsman of the same name, but the maker of hazel, ash or willow fencing used for sheepfolds.
JAGGER - transported ore to smelters [18th century], also a hawker.
LEGGER - casual labourer who helped unpowered canal boats 'leg' through tunnels.
LENGTHSMAN - responsible for maintaining a piece of country road. Sometimes apparently called a Linesman.
MILLWRIGHT - a person who constructed windmills, set their sails, and dealt with all the mill's innards like the millstones, cogs and gears. It has also been pointed out that the term Millwright was also used to describe the mechanics who kept the woollen and cotton mills running and is still in use today in many factories - particluarly those in the North. In another instance we know the term 'Millwright' is still used to describe Machine Tool fitters and Boilermen.
MOUCHER - a sort of tramp-like figure who would harvest whatever the hedgerows had to offer and then sell this at market.
NEATHERD - cowherd.
PLEACHER - someone who lays hedges. Derived from the word 'pleach' which means to plait or interlace.
POT BOY - a youngster starting out in the gardening world whos job it was to sort, wash, clean and stack clay pots ready for use.
SWAIN - a shepherd, but in times of yore an attendant
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