Occupations
      Of Our Colonial Ancestors

Occupations Beginning With The Letter   ~   H

Habardashar A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Habberdasher A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Haberdasher A dealer in, or maker of, hats and caps; a hatter. Also, a dealer in small articles appertaining to dress, as thread, tape, ribbons, etc. A seller of small wares, hats, etc. [UEED] (Minshew derives it of "habt fhr das": "have you that?", a question frequently asked those who sell many articles.) [UEED]
Haberdasher Of Pronouns According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a schoolmaster.
Haberdassher A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Habirdasschere A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Habirdasshere A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Haburdaissher A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Haburdassher A variation in the spelling of the name: haberdasher.
Hack A prostitute; a bawd.
Hackbut-man A man armed with a hackbut. In this case, the name hackbut refers to: harquebus, an early type of portable gun, varying in size from a cannon to a musket, which on account of its weight was, when used in the field, supported on a tripod.
Hackbutter A soldier armed with a hackbut; a harquebusier.
Hacker One who hacks; one who hoes with a hack. The name 'hack' was given to a pick-axe, a mattock. [UEED]
Hackler One who hackles (flax or hemp); a flax-dresser, heckler.
Hackman The driver of a hack or hackney-carriage; a cabman.
Hackney Carriage Driver One who drives a hackney carriage. A hackney carriage is any carriage or vehicle standing or publicly plying for hire.
Hackney-chairman The bearer, drawer, or keeper of a hackney-chair.
Hackney-coachman The driver of a hackney-coach. In this case, a hackney-coach was a four-wheeled coach, drawn by two horses, and seated for six persons, kept for hire. In this case, also, the word hackney refers to the horse, which was for hire.
Hackney-writer According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for one who writes for attornies or booksellers.
Hafter One who makes hafts or handles for tools.
Hagbutar A variation in the spelling of the name: hackbutter.
Hagbutter A variation in the spelling of the name: hackbutter.
Haggler A clumsy, awkward workman. Also, an itinerant dealer; a huckster.
Haiward A variation in the spelling of the name: hayward.
Halbadier A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halbarder A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halbardier A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halbeerter A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halberdear A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halberdeer A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halberdier A soldier armed with a halberd; spec. a member of certain civic guards carrying a halberd as a badge of office.
Halberdman A halberdier.
Halberdsman A halberdier
Halberteer A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halbertere A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halbertier A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Hallebardier A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Halster According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "man who draws a barge along by a rope."
Halterer A halter-maker.
Halterman A hangman.
Hamberow A horse collar maker.
Hamlet According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a high constable.
Hammerer One who hammers or wields a hammer; often, one who plies the geologist's hammer, a geologist.
Hammerman A man who works with a hammer. spec. A smith or worker in metal. A blacksmith's unskilled assistant or 'striker'. A man who manipulates a steam-hammer.
Hammersmith A smith who works with a hammer, a hammerman.
Hand A person employed by another in any manual work; a workman or workwoman.
Handmaid A female personal attendant or servant.
Handmaiden A variation in the spelling of the name: handmaid.
Handman A manservant, serving-man.
Handseller An itinerant auctioneer. A street dealer who carries his stock-in trade in a basket, tray, or the like.
Handservant A servant attending upon one; an attendant.
Handwoman A female attendant; a handmaid.
Hand-worker One who works with his hands: opposed variously to one who works with his head, one who employs the hands of others, or one who works with a machine.
Handyman A man of general utility, a man useful for all sorts of odd jobs; a sailor.
Handywright A worker with his hand, a mechanic.
Hansard A sword or dagger maker. This name appears only on websites; in all cases the definition is exactly the same: "weapon maker or seller". The name might be derived from the name hausard or from the French word hansart, derived itself from the Germanic: "hant" for hand, and "sach" for knife.
Hanseman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Hanshman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Hansomeer The driver of a hansom. The name, hansom comes from the name of a cab, or coach.
Harad A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Haralt A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harat A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Haraude A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Haraulde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harawd A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harbinger Signifies an officer of the King's household, who goes before and allots the noblemen, and those of the King's retinue, their lodgings. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Harbour-master According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for an "officer appointed to inspect the moorings, and to see that the ships are properly berthed, and the regulations of the harbour strictly observed by the different ships frequenting it."
Haret A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harhalde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harhodde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harman According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a constable.
Harman-beck According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a beadle.
Harness-bearer Obs. An armour-bearer.
Harnessmaker One who makes harnesses. The name harness pertains to tackle, gear, furniture, armament; the equipment or mounting of any thing.
Harnessman A variation in the spelling of the name: harness-bearer
Harolde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harood A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harott A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harotte A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harowed A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harper One who harps or plays upon a harp.
Harpist A professional harper.
Harrald A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harralde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrat A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harratt A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrawd A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrold A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrolde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrot A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harrote A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Harud A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Hastary A spearman.
Hat-block maker One who makes a form or mould upon which a man's hat is shaped.
Hatcheller A flax-dresser, heckler.
Hatchetman A pioneer or axeman serving in a military unit.
Hatmaker A maker of hats.
Hatter A maker of or dealer in hats. Also, One who lives or works alone, orig. a miner.
Haul-bowlings According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for an "able-bodied seaman."
Haunchman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Haunsman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Haward A variation in the spelling of the name: hayward.
Hawker A man who goes from place to place selling his goods, or who cries them in the street. The name is derived from the Low German word, hocken, meaning to take upon the back. Hawkers, those deceitful fellows who went from place to place, buying and selling brass, pewter, and other goods and merchandize, which ought to be utter'd in open market, were of old so called; and the appellation seems to grow from their uncertain wandering, like persons that with Hawks seek their game where they can find it. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Haymaker A man or woman employed in making hay; esp. one engaged in lifting, tossing, and spreading the hay after it is mown. One who prepares grass for hay. [UEED]
Haymonger One who sells hay.
Hay-presser According to Everett B. Wilson in his book Early America At Work, published in 1963, this was one who baled hay prior to the invention of mechanical hay balers.
Hayward An officer of a manor, township, or parish, having charge of the fences and enclosures, esp. to keep cattle from breaking through from the common into enclosed fields; sometimes, the herdsman of the cattle feeding on the common.
Headborough Originally the head of a fridborh, tithing or frank-pledge; afterwards a parish officer identical in functions with the petty constable. Variously known as a borrowhead, borsholder, thirdborough, tithingman.
Headboroughe A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headborow A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headborowe A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headborrowe A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headborwe A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headbourg A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Headburrough A variation in the spelling of the name: headborough.
Header According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for the "person in the Newfoundland fishing vessels who is engaged to cut open the fish, tear out the entrails, break off the head, and pass it over to the splitter, who sits opposite to him."
Headsman A chief, leader, head man. Also,one who beheads; an executioner. Also, the man in command of a whaling boat, who steers till the whale is struck, and then moves to the head of the boat. Also, in mining a labourer in a colliery who pushes coal from the workings to the tramway, a 'putter'.
Headswoman A midwife.
Health-guard According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for "officers appointed to superintend the due observance of the quarantine regulations."
Hebbermen Fishermen, or poachers below London-Bridge, who fish for whitings, smelts, &tc. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Heckler A variation in the spelling of the name: hackler.
Heddle-maker One who manufactures the heddles for a loom. In this cas the word heddles refers to: the small cords (or in recent use, wires) through which the warp is passed in a loom after going through the reed, and by means of the warp threads are separated into two sets so as to allow the passage of the shuttle bearing the weft.
Hedger One who make, repairs, or trims hedges.
Heel-breaster An operator who cuts heel breasts. In this case the phrase heel breasts refers to: the inside edge of the heel, adjoining the waist.
Heeler One who puts heels on shoes; soler.
Heel-maker One who makes the heels of shoes.
Heel-parer One who shapes and trims heel blanks.
Heel-scourer One who scours the surface of heels.
Heinsman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman. [UEED]
Heiward A variation in the spelling of the name: hayward.
Heldarman A variation in the spelling of the name: alderman.
Helmsman According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "timoneer, or person, who guides the ship or boat by the management of the helm."
Henceman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henchboy A page of honour, a boy attendant. The OED notes that: in the 17th c. they ran on foot beside the mayor, sheriffs, etc.
Henchman A groom. Also, A squire, or page of honour to a prince or great man, who walked or rode beside him in processions, progresses, marches, etc.; also, one who, on occasion, fulfilled the same office to a queen or princess. According to James McDonald in his book, Wordly Wise, the name was originally derived from the Anglo-Saxon word hengest, which meant 'horse' and 'man' to produce: horse attendant, or groom.
Hencheman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henchwoman A female attendant, a waiting-woman.
Hengestmannus A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henseman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henter One who seizes; a grasper.
Henwife A woman who has charge of fowls; sometimes applied contemptuously to a man.
Henxceman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henxeman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henxman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henxstman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Henxtman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Herald An officer having the special duty of making royal or state proclamations, and of bearing ceremonial messages between princes or sovereign powers. Also, one who proclaims or announces the message of another; a messenger, envoy. Also, one who is skilled in heraldry; a heraldist.
Heralde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heralt A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heraud A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heraude A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herauld A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heraulde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herault A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heraute A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herawde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herbinger A variation in the spelling of the name: harbinger. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Herdman A man who herds cattle, sheep, or other animals; a herdsman.
Herdsmaiden A maiden who tends cattle.
Herdsman A keeper of domestic animals which go in herds, esp. of cattle.
Herdswoman A woman who tends cattle.
Herehaught A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herehaughte A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herehault A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herehaut A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heremite A variation in the spelling of the name: eremite.
Heremyte A variation in the spelling of the name: eremite.
Heresla A variation in the spelling of the name: hereslita.
Hereslita A soldier hired for the wars, departing without license. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Heresliz A variation in the spelling of the name: hereslita.
Herewde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herhaud A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herhault A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herimyte A variation in the spelling of the name: eremite.
Hermonger A variation in the spelling of the name: ironmonger.
Herode A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herold A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Heroud A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herowd A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herowde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herrald A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herralde A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herrod A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herrold A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Herrowd A variation in the spelling of the name: herald.
Hetheleder One who sells the dried branches of heather as fuel.
Hewer One who hews. One who cuts wood or stone; spec. one who shapes and dresses stone for building. Also, one who uses a heavy broad-ax in squaring 'timber'.
Heynceman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Heynsman A variation in the spelling of the name: henchman.
Heyward A variation in the spelling of the name: hayward.
High-pad According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a highwayman.
Highwayman One who frequents the highway for the purpose of robbing passengers: esp. one who does this on horseback, as distinguished from a foot-pad.
Higler A variation in the spelling of the name: hawker.
Hildsmith One who made hilts for swords.
Hinchboy A variation in the spelling of the name: henchboy.
Hind A servant; esp., in later use, a farm servant, an agricultural labourer.
Hine A servant, or one of the family; but it is properly a term for a servant in husbandry, and he that oversees the rest is called the master-hine. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hireman A subject to obey; or it may be one who serves in the King's hall, to guard him. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hlabard A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hlafard A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hlaferd A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hlaford A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hlafweard A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hlouerd A variation in the spelling of the name: lord.
Hoastman Hoastmen are an ancient fraternity, who deal in sea-coal. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hobbler According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "man on land employed in towing a vessel by a rope."
Hobiler A variation in the spelling of the name: hobler. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hoblers Hoblers were light horse-men; or tenants bound by their tenure to maintain a little light horse, for giving notice of any invasion made by the enemy, or such like peril towards the sea-side. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hockettor A knight of the post. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hocqueteur A variation in the spelling of the name: hockettor.
Hocster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hodman A man who carries on his shoulder the hod supplying builders with mortar (which he also prepares), bricks, or stones; a 'bricklayer's labourer'.
Hodsman A variation in the spelling of the name: hodman.
Hoggard A hogherd.
Hoggester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hogherd A swineherd.
Hog-reeve According to Everett B. Wilson in his book Early America At Work, published in 1963, the hog-reeve was an official who dealt with stray hogs, "charged with seeing that loose hogs had rings in their noses and were properly marked".
Hoker A variation in the spelling of the name: hawker.
Hokester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hokster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hokstere A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Holbarder A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Holberder A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Holberteer A variation in the spelling of the name: halberdier.
Holde A bailiff of a town or city. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Holder A workman employed in a ship's hold.
Holder-up One who holds up or sustains; a supporter, maintainer; spec. a workman who supports a rivet with a hand-anvil or sledge-hammer in riveting.
Holeber According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "kind of light horseman, who rode about from place to place in the night, to gain intelligence of the landing of boats, men, &c., on the Kentish coast."
Hookster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hooper A craftsman who fits the hoops on casks, barrels, etc.; a cooper. Also a maker of hoops.
Hop-merchant According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a dancing master.
Horner A worker in horn; a maker of horn spoons, combs, etc. Also, one who makes musical horns.
Hornsmith One who produced articles out of horn and tortoise shell.
Horse-boy A boy employed to attend to horses; a stable-boy.
Horse-breaker One who breaks in horses or trains them to the bridle or collar.
Horse-coarser A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-corser.
Horse-cooper A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-coper.
Horse-coper A horse-dealer.
Horse-corser A jobbing dealer in horses.
Horse-coser A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-corser.
Horse-couper A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-coper.
Horse-courser A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-corser.
Horse-cowper A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-coper.
Horse-doctor According to Everett B. Wilson in his book Early America At Work, published in 1963, this was a veterinarian.
Horse-jockey One hired to ride a horse in a race.
Horse-keeper One who has the care of horses.
Horse-koper A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-coper.
Horse-leech A horse-doctor, farrier, veterinary surgeon.
Horseman One who rides on horseback, a rider; one skilled in riding and managing a horse. Also, a mounted soldier. Also, a knight. Also, a man who attends to horses.
Horse-marine A marine mounted on horseback, or a cavalryman doing a marine's work.
Horsemaster One who owns or manages horse; also a horse-breaker.
Horser One who provides horses for a coach; a postmaster.
Horse-scorser A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-corser.
Horse-scourser A variation in the spelling of the name: horse-corser.
Horstiler Horstilers is used for innkeepers; and in some old books the word hostlers is taken in the same sense. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hospitaler Hospitalers were a certain Order of religious knights in this kingdom, so called because they built an hospital at Jerusalem wherein pilgrims were received. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hosteler One who receives, lodges, or entertains guests and strangers; spec., in a monastery or religious house, one whose office was to attend to guests and strangers. Also, a keeper of a hostelry or inn; an innkeeper. Also, a stableman.
Hostilarius A variation in the spelling of the name: hosteler. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hostler A man who attends to horses at an inn; a stableman, a groom.
Houkester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Householder Is the occupier of a house, a house-keeper or master of a family. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Housekeeper Keeper of a house. A person in charge of a house, office, place of business, etc. Also, a woman engaged in housekeeping or domestic occupations; a woman who manages or superintends the affairs of a household; esp. the woman in control of the female servants of a household.
House-wright A builder of houses (esp. of timber); a house-carpenter .
Howdie A variation in the spelling of the name: howdy.
Howdy A midwife.
Howkster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hoxster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hoyman A man in charge of a hoy; the master of a hoy. In this case the word hoy refers to: a small vessel, usually rigged as a sloop, and employed in carrying passengers and goods, particularly in short distances on the sea-coast.
Hripemonn A variation in the spelling of the name: reapman.
Hrippemonn A variation in the spelling of the name: reapman.
Huccster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huckester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huckstar A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huckster A retailer of small goods, in a petty shop or booth, or at a stall; a peddlar, a hawker. A variation in the spelling of the name: hawker.
Hucster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huer According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "man posted on an elevation near the sea, who, by concerted signals, directs the fishermen when a shoal of fish is in sight."
Huffler Still used of bargemen. According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "one who carries off fresh provisions to a ship."
Huikster A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huissier An usher of a court, or in the King's palace. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Hukester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hukkester A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hukstar A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hukstere A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Huntsman A man who hunts, a hunter. Also, the manager of a hunt; a man whose business is to take charge of the hounds and direct the pursuit of game; esp. the man in charge of a pack of hounds for fox-hunting.
Huntsmaster The master of the hunt; an officer who directs a hunt.
Huntswoman A huntress; a woman who rides to hounds.
Hurdiger According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "particular artificer employed in constructing the castles in our early ships."
Hurdler One who constructs hurdles; a hurdle-maker. In this case the word hurdle refers to: a portable rectangular frame, orig. having horizontal bars interwoven or wattled with withes of hazel, willow, etc.; but now often an open frame with light horizontal bars crossed by uprights, and strengthened by a diagonal bar, like a field gate; used chiefly to form temporary fences, sheep-pens, etc.
Hurdy-gurdyist A hurdy-gurdy player.
Hurrer Cappers and hatters. [UEED] The cappers and hat makers of London were formerly one Company of Haberdashers, called by this name. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Husbandman A man who tills or cultivates the soil; a farmer. A husbandman was involved in husbandry: the art of tilling and improving land. [UEED]
Huscarle A menial servant. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744]
Huxter A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.
Hwkstare A variation in the spelling of the name: huckster.