Why couldn't they do jobs with sensible names!?!?

[dawnlea]

Ok,Ok. I give up.
Why can't my ancestors have done jobs with self-explanatary titles. I've found one today who was a, wait for it..., sopeboiler!!!. What on earth is one of those! What is a sope? Why do you have to boil it!? What do you do with it when you have boiled it? Answers anyone?Â

 

[admin]

Hi dawnlea,

"in the neighbourhood of towns . . . Sope ashes are frequently used as a manure" . The ashes from elm or ash were said to be the best for making the "lye" in the manufacture of soap.

Seems that the term means "Soap Maker"

Cheers,
Dave

 

[izabel]

Totally agree with you . Why could they not just say butcher - flesher sounds like some vampire from the dark ages.

 

[dawnlea]

Hello peeps!! ;D
You're absolutely right Izabel, 'flesher' sounds like something that Sweeney Todd should have put on his CV. How about it guys - anyone else got any ludicrously named occupations lurking in their family trees. Come on - post them here, let's have a giggle!!

 

[izabel]

Heres some I found on my net wanderings

Accipitrary - Falconer
Accoucheur - midwife
Aeronaut - trapeeze artist
Ankle beater - cattle herder
Archiator - physician
Back washer - wool cleaner
Banker - ditch digger
Battledore maker - carpet beater maker
Bluestocking - female writer
Clod hopper - plowman
Colporteur - book peddler
Fogger - low class lawyer
Hatcheler - flax comber
Hush shop keeper - seller of beer without a licence
Japanner - varnisher
Mudlark - sewer cleaner
Scaleraker - street cleaner
tide waiter - customs inspector
Toe rag - corn porter
Peregrinator - wanderer
Peruker - wig maker
Pettifogger - shyster lawyer
Snobscat - repairer of shoes

and my personal favorite

Unfortunate - prostitute

 

[dawnlea]

Oh my god, izabel!! You have been busy! ;D

But where did they get these names from? Half (no, in fact most) of the names have, it seems, nothing in common with the trade. Mudlark I can understand. Even aeronaut. But why on earth would you call a shoe repairer a 'snobscat'? Any ideas anyone?? Keep 'em coming!

 

[admin]

I will definately call a lawyer a

Fogger

or something like that Sorry

Love the following:

Hush shop keeper - seller of beer without a licence

:2fun:

Dave