Occupational Based Surnames

The use of occupational surnames started about the time of Edward the Confessor. The earliest of these seem to have been official names, such as Bishop, Mayor, Alderman, Reeve, Sheriff, Chamberlain, Chancellor, Chaplain, Deacon, Latimer (interpreter), Marshall, Sumner (summoner), and Parker (parkkeeper).

Trade and craft names, although of the same general type, were slightly later in development. Currier (dresser of skins), Webster (weaver), Wainwright (wagon builder), and Baxter (a baker). Names as Smith, Taylor, Barber, Shepherd, Carter, Mason, Baker, Plumber and Miller are self-explanatory. In France similarly we have La Farr (iron worker); in Germany there was Winegar (vine dresser) and Müller (Miller)

Some apparently obvious occupational names aren't what they may seem, however. A Farmer did not work in agriculture but collected taxes, and Banker is not an occupational surname at all, meaning "dweller on a hillside".