| Dairyman | A man who manages, or is employed in, a dairy. The dairyman sold and delivered dairy products from a farm to townsfolk. The name of "dairy" was derived from a combination of the Old English word daege, which meant maid, and the Anglo-Norman word erie, which denoted a place. The combination gives the word for a place where butter and cheese are made, handled or stored. |
| Daisy-kicker | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for an ostler who takes care of the horses at a great inn. |
| Damascener | One who damascenes metal. In this case the word damascenes refers to: to ornament (metal-work, esp. steel) with designs incised in the surface and filled in with gold or silver. The word damascenes also refers to: to ornament (steel) with a watered pattern, as in Damascus blades. |
| Dame | A female ruler, superior or head: 'lady', as fem. of lord. Also, the 'lady' of the house, the mistress of a household, a housewife. Also, the legal title prefixed to the name and surname of the wife of a knight or baronet. |
| Dammer | One who constructs dams. Many websites include the name damster for this definition, but the word does not exist in the OED. |
| Damned Soul | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a clerk in a counting house, whose sole business it is to clear or swear off merchandise at the custom-house. |
| Dapifer | One who brings meat to table; hence the official title of the steward of a king's or nobleman's household. Dapifer was at first a domestick officer, like unto our Steward of the Household; or rather Clerk of the Kitchen: But by degree it was used for any fiduciary servant, especially the Chief Steward or Head Bailiff of an honour or manor. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Dareman | A variation in the spelling of the name: dairyman. |
| Dataller | A variation in the spelling of the name: daytaler. |
| Dauber | One who plasters or covers walls with mortar, clay, etc.; a plasterer, one who builds with daub. In this case the word daub refers to: material for daubing walls, etc.; plaster, rough mortar; clay or mud mixed with stubble or chaff. |
| Daunsel | Almost a squire, but without military connotation. The squire was a young man who aspired to be a knight. He first served as a "page" and then as a "squire". The daunsel, being more than a groom but less than a squire, would assist the knight by carrying his armor, shield and other equipment as necessary. The name of daunsel is derived from the word dominicellus, the masculine form of damoiselle, and comes from the Records Of The Borough Of Leicester 1103-1327, published in 1899 by the Cambridge University Press. The name daunsel does not appear in the OED. |
| Day-labourer | A labourer who is hired to work at a certain rate of wages per day; one who earns his living by day labour. |
| Daysman | An umpire or abitrator; a mediator. Also, a worker by the day; a day-labourer. |
| Day-tale man | A day-labourer. |
| Daytaler | A day-labourer, a workman engaged and paid by the day. |
| Dealer | One who deals (in various senses of the verb). Also, one who divides, distributes, delivers. Also, one who deals in merchandise, a trader. |
| Deame | A variation in the spelling of the name: dame. |
| Death-hunter | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for an undertaker, or one who furnishes the necessary articles for funerals. |
| Deathsman | A man who puts another to death; an executioner. |
| Decennier | A variation in the spelling of the name: dozener. |
| Decimater | A variation in the spelling of the name: decimator. |
| Decimator | An exactor or receiver of tithes, or taxes to the amount of one-tenth. |
| Deciner | A variation in the spelling of the name: dozener. |
| Deeam | A variation in the spelling of the name: dame. |
| Deemer | A judge. Also, one who deems, judges, or opines. |
| Demaistre | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demar | A variation in the spelling of the name: deemer. |
| Demare | A variation in the spelling of the name: deemer. |
| Deme | A variation in the spelling of the name: dame. |
| Demer | A variation in the spelling of the name: deemer. |
| Demere | A variation in the spelling of the name: deemer. |
| Demester | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demestere | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demestre | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demilance | According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for a "light horseman, who carried a light lance." |
| Demister | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demistere | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demmepster | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Dempster | A judge, a deemer. |
| Demstar | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demster | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Demstere | A variation in the spelling of the name: dempster. |
| Deputy | Is he that exercises an office, &tc in another man's right. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Detective | One whose occupation it is to discover matters artfully concealed; particularly a member of the police force employed to investigate specific cases, or to watch particular suspected individuals or classes of offenders. |
| (County) Detective | According to the County Government And Archives In Pennsylvania, published by the Pennsylvania Historical And Museum Commission in 1947, "county detectives have all the rights and powers conferred by law upon constables to the extent that they concern crimes and criminal procedure. They make investigations when requested by the district attorney and try to secure evidence which is needed for the criminal cases being considered." |
| Deuk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Devil | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was a name for a printer's errand-boy. |
| Devil-catcher | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was another name for a parson. |
| Devil-driver | According to the 1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue, by Captain Grose, this was another name for a parson. |
| Dewke | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dexter | A dyer. One who dyed cloth. The name is derived from the Old English word "daexestre" which meant "dyer". |
| Deym | A variation in the spelling of the name: dame. |
| Deyme | A variation in the spelling of the name: dame. |
| Dey-wife | A dairy woman. |
| Dey-woman | A dairy woman. |
| Dialer | One who makes a survey of mines by the aid of a 'dial' or compass. |
| Dialler | A variation in the spelling of the name: dialer. |
| Diar | A variation in the spelling of the name: dyer. |
| Dier | A variation in the spelling of the name: dyer. |
| Dighere | A variation in the spelling of the name: dyer. |
| Dikar | A variation in the spelling of the name: diker. |
| Diker | A man who constructs of works at dikes. One who digs ditches or trenches. Also, one who builds enclosure walls (of earth or dry-stone). Also, one who constructs embankments. |
| Dike-reeve | An officer appointed or approved by the Commissioners of Sewers , to take charge of the drains, sluices, and sea-banks of a district of fen or marshland in England. |
| Distillator | One who distills; a distiller. |
| Distiller | One who or that which distills. Also, one who extracts alcoholic spirits by distillation. |
| District Attorney | According to the County Government And Archives In Pennsylvania, published by the Pennsylvania Historical And Museum Commission in 1947, "the district attorney signs all bills of indictment and conducts all criminal prosecutions in the name of the State." |
| Dochesse | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Docker | A labourer in the docks. Also, One who docks the tails of horses. Most website give the description as: One who loads and unloads cargo to and from ships. |
| Dockmaster | The superintendant or manager of a dock. |
| Docksman | A man employed at a dock or docks. |
| Dock-walloper | A casual labourer engaged at docks and wharfs. |
| Dockyard-maties | According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a name for "the artificers in a dockyard." |
| Doctor | A teacher, instructor; one who gives instruction in some branch of knowledge or inculcates opinions or principles. Also, one who, by reason of his skill in any branch of knowledge, is competent to teach it, or whose attainments entitle him to express an authoritative opinion; an eminently learned man. Also, one who is eminently skilled in a particular art or craft. Also, one who is proficient in knowledge of law. Also, a doctor of medicine; in popular current use, applied to any medical practitioner. According to James McDonald in his book, Wordly Wise, the name doctor was derived from the Latin docere, meaning 'to lead'. According to The Sailor's Word-Book, published in 1867 by William Henry Smyth, this was a jocular name for a "ship's cook." |
| Doctour | A variation in the spelling of the name: doctor. |
| Doctoure | A variation in the spelling of the name: doctor. |
| Doctur | A variation in the spelling of the name: doctor. |
| Doemere | A variation in the spelling of the name: deemer. |
| Doffer | In a textile factory, a worker employed in removing the full bobbins or spindles. |
| Dogboy | A boy in charge of dogs; a huntsman's assistant. |
| Dogcatcher | One who caught stray dogs. According to Everett B. Wilson in his book Early America At Work, published in 1963, the dogcatcher is now known as an animal warden. |
| Dogger-man | Fishermen that belong to dogger-ships. In this case, a dogger was a light ship or vessel. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Doke | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Doktor | A variation in the spelling of the name: doctor. |
| Domes-man | Judges, or men appointed to doom and determine suits and controversies. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Domestic | A household servant or attendant. |
| Dominie | A schoolmaster, pedagogue. Also, the (male) keeper of a boarding-house. Also, the title of a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church. |
| Donkey-boy | A boy in charge of a donkey, or of a donkey-engine. In this case the word donkey-engine refers to a small steam engine. |
| Donkey-man | A man in charge of a donkey, or of a donkey-engine. In this case the word donkey-engine refers to a small steam engine. |
| Door-keeper | One who keeps or guards a door; a janitor, porter, ostiary. |
| Doorman | A farrier's assistant. Also, an attendant at the door of a shop or place of entertainment. |
| Doorsman | A variation in the spelling of the name: doorman. |
| Dopester | One who collects information on, and forecasts the results of, sporting events, elections, etc. |
| Doubler | A person employed in doubling. In this case the word doubling refers to: to lay two or more filaments (of silk) or slivers (of cotton, wool, or flax), together, and compress them into one. |
| Douc | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Douk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Douke | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dowser | One who uses the divining -or dowsing- rod in search of subterraneous supplies of water or mineral veins. |
| Doyk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dozener | A member of a tithing. Also, a name formerly borne by the constables, watchmen, or other ward-officers, in some boroughs. |
| Doziner | A variation in the spelling of the name: dozener. |
| Dozinier | A variation in the spelling of the name: dozener. |
| Draftsman | A draughtsman. |
| Dragoneer | A variation in the spelling of the name: dragooner. |
| Dragonier | A variation in the spelling of the name: dragooner. |
| Dragoner | A variation in the spelling of the name: dragooner. |
| Dragoon | A species of cavalry soldier. The name was originally applied to mounted infantry armed with the firearm. These gradually developed into horse soldiers, and the term is now merely a name for certain regiments of cavalry which historically represent the ancient dragoons, and retain some distinctive features of dress, etc. |
| Dragooneer | A variation in the spelling of the name: dragooner. |
| Dragooner | A dragoon. |
| Dragsman | The driver of a drag or coach. Also, one employed to drag a river-bed. |
| Drainer | One who drains; esp. one whose business is to construct field-drains. |
| Draper | Orig., One who made (woolen) cloth. Subsequently, A dealer in cloth, and now by extension, in other articles of textile manufacture: often qualified as woolen, linen draper. The name comes from the Old French through Middle English "drapier" denoting, variously, a weaver or cloth seller. |
| Drapere | A variation in the spelling of the name: draper. |
| Draughtsman | One whose profession is to make drawings, plans, or sketches; a man employed or skilled in drawing or designing. Also, one who draws up, or makes a draft of, a writing or document; one whose office it is to draw up legal or official documents. |
| Draw-boy | The boy employed to pull the cords of the harness in figure-weaving. |
| Drawer | One who draws liquors for customers; a tapster at a tavern. |
| Drayman | A man who drives a dray. Also, a fisherman who uses a drag-net. One who drove the large cart called a "dray" [UEED]. It was a heavy wagon which had no end- or side-boards, and was commonly used to haul hay or other materials whose size or shape required that they hang over the side. |
| Dredgerman | Fishers for oysters, &tc. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Dresser | One who or that which dresses. Also, One who attires another; esp. a tirewoman. Also, A surgeon's assistant in a hospital, etc., whose duty it is to dress wounds, etc. |
| Dress-maker | A maker of dresses; spec. a woman who makes dresses for those of her own sex. |
| Driller | One who sows seed by drilling. |
| Driver | One who drives a herd of cattle, etc. Also, one who drives a vehicle or the animal that draws it; a charioteer, coachman, cabman, etc. |
| Drovare | A variation in the spelling of the name: drover. |
| Drover | One who drives droves of cattle, sheep, etc., esp. to distant markets; a dealer in cattle. A drover would be hired to drive cattle through the streets of the town because he would know the layout of the streets and therefore be able to more easily direct the animals quickly and efficiently. |
| Drovier | A variation in the spelling of the name: drover. |
| Drudger | A labourer, an oyster-fisher. [UEED] |
| Druggist | One who sells or deals in drugs. |
| Drummer | According to Everett B. Wilson in his book Early America At Work, published in 1963, this was a traveling salesman. The name was popular primarily in the American Colonies. |
| Dry-cooper | This was a specialized cooper: one who made casks, etc., to hold dry goods. |
| Drysalter | A dealer in chemical products used in the arts, drugs, dye-stuffs, gums, etc. |
| Dubber | A renovator of old clothes. One who worked with a tanner and dressed the skins into leather. The process of dressing involved removing all of the flesh and fat, soaking the skin in a liming solution, scraping it to remove all the hair, and then drying it. |
| Duc | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duce | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Ducesse | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Duche | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duches | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Duchess | The wife or widow of a duke. Also, a lady holding in her own right a position equal to that of duke. |
| Duchesse | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Duchez | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Duck | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dudder | One who sold rags and other cheap goods. |
| Duffer | One who sells trashy goods as valuable, upon false pretenses, e.g. pretending that they are smuggled or stolen, and offered as bargains. Also, a pedlar or hawker. |
| Duiches | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Duik | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duke | A leader; a leader of an army, a captain or general; a chief, ruler. Also, in some European countries: a sovereign prince, the ruler of a small state called a duchy. Also, in Great Britain and some other countries: a hereditary title of nobility, ranking next below that of a prince. |
| Dukes | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Dukke | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duque | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dussiner | A variation in the spelling of the name: dozener. |
| Dustbinman | A refuse collector. |
| Dustman | A man whose occupation it is to collect and cart away dust and refuse from dust bins, etc. |
| Dusty Fatts | Pedlars or traders who have no settled habitation, and they have their name from their feet being cover'd with dust, by their continual travelling. [According to A New Law Dictionary, by Giles Jacob, 1744] |
| Dusty Foots | A variation in the spelling of the name: dusty fatts. |
| Dutches | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Dutchess | A variation in the spelling of the name: duchess. |
| Dux | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Duyk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dwk | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dwke | A variation in the spelling of the name: duke. |
| Dyar | A variation in the spelling of the name: dyer. |
| Dycare | A variation in the spelling of the name: diker. |
| Dyer | One whose occupation is to dye cloth and other materials. The dyer boiled pieces of cloth or leather in liquids composed of dyes and mordants (to set the dyes) in order to impart color to them. |
| Dyhzere | A variation in the spelling of the name: dyer. |
| Dyker | A variation in the spelling of the name: diker. |
