In English, many surnames come from the professions of their ancestors. These are called “occupational surnames”. Examples include Smith (blacksmith), Miller (miller), Taylor (tailor), and Carpenter.
In this episode, you’ll learn some of the more common ones and we’ll explain the vocabulary related to the profession.
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Surnames derived from occupations
Smith/Smyth/Smythe: A blacksmith who worked with iron.
Miller/Millar: A person who worked in a mill, often grinding grain.
Taylor: A tailor, someone who made clothes.
Carpenter: A person who worked with wood, building and repairing structures.
Fisher: A person who caught fish.
Baker: A person who baked bread and other goods.
Barker: A person who worked with leather and animal hides. Prepared leather for sandals, belts, shoes etc)
Cooper: A person who made barrels and casks. (a barrel of laughs, to scrape the barrel)
Knight: a mounted soldier in medieval Europe who served a king or lord in exchange for land or honour, often bound by the code of chivalry, which emphasised bravery, loyalty, and honour.
To be knighted: given the title Sir or Dame (Sir paul McCartney, Dame Judi Dench)
Wright: A person who was a maker or repairer of things.
Thatcher: A person who made and repaired thatched (straw) roofs.
Potter: Someone who made things from clay, such as pots.
Gardner/Gardener/Gardiner: A gardener, someone who tended gardens.
Turner: A person who operated a lathe, or similar revolving machine
Fletcher: An archer or someone who made arrows.
Carter: A person who carted (transported) goods in a cart.
Chandler: Someone who made candles.
Fowler: Someone who caught birds (fowl).
Brewer: A person who brewed beer or other alcoholic drinks
Chamberlain (from French): A person who held a position in a royal household or large estate.
Shepherd: A person who looked after sheep
Sexton: An officer of a church.
Roles include: Maintaining the church (cleaning, ringing the bell, preparing for services)
Digging graves and caring for the cemetery
Overseeing church property and security
Ward: A guardian or protector.
“ward off” is a phrasal verb that means to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous from happening or to protect oneself against something.
“She wore garlic to ward off evil spirits.”
Stewart: The name for the person who was in charge of a noble household. Among other things, they guarded the money.
Webster: Someone who wove cloth on a loom.
Craig’s surname – Wealand/Wel(l)and/Weyland/Wayland etc: It may originally have meant dweller at the spring-land.
Reza’s grandmother’s maiden name – Burgess: An inhabitant of a fortified town, (such as Edinburgh, for example).
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. Do you have similar connections between professions and surnames in your language?
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