Use this glossary to find English meanings for Dutch occupation terms commonly found in genealogy records.
| Dutch term | English definition |
|---|---|
| aannemer | building contractor |
| aardwerker | potter |
| adel | nobility |
| adellijk | noble |
| aderlating | bloodletting |
| advocaat | lawyer |
| ambachtsman | artisan |
| ambt | office |
| ambt. | (abbreviation for ambtenaar) civil servant |
| ambtenaar | civil servant, official |
| apotheker | pharmacist |
| apothekersbediende | druggist clerk |
| arbeider | laborer |
| arbeidster | workwoman |
| baker | dry nurse |
| bakker | baker |
| baleinwerker | whalebone worker |
| barbier | barber |
| beddeschoonmaakster | chambermaid |
| bedelaar | beggar |
| bediende | servant |
| bedrijf | business |
| beeldhouwer | sculptor |
| begijn | beguine |
| begrafenis baas | undertaker |
| behoeftigden | indigent |
| bekende | acquaintance |
| beltwerker | dumpman |
| ber. | (abbreviation for beroep) occupation, trade |
| beroep | occupation, trade |
| beul | executioner |
| bewaarder | warden |
| bierbrouwer | brewer |
| bijker | bee keeper |
| bijzit | mistress |
| binnenvaarder | canal boatman |
| bleeker | bleacher |
| blikslager | tinsmith |
| bloemist | florist |
| blokmaker | block-maker |
| boekbinder | book binder |
| boekdrukker | publisher |
| boekhouder | bookkeeper |
| boer | farmer |
| boerenarbeider | farmhand |
| boerenknecht | farm worker |
| borstelmaker | brush maker |
| bosbaas | forester |
| boswachter | forester |
| bouwkundige | architect |
| brandweerman | fireman |
| broodbakker | baker |
| brouwer | brewer |
| burgemeester | mayor |
| burger | citizen |
| buurman | neighbor |
| chirurg | surgeon |
| chirurgijn | surgeon |
| civil ingenieur | civil engineer |
| correspondent | correspondence clerk |
| dagloner | day laborer |
| daglooner | day laborer |
| dekker | roofer |
| dienstbode | servant |
| dienstmeid | farm servant girl |
| dienstmeisje | servant girl |
| dienstsmeid | maid |
| dijkwerker | dyke worker |
| docent | teacher |
| dominee | minister |
| doodgraver | gravedigger |
| drukker | printer |
| edelman | nobleman |
| eigenaar | proprietor |
| eigengeërfde | freeholder |
| emigrant | emigrant |
| fabriek | factory, mill |
| florijn | guilder |
| gaardenier | gardener |
| gareelmaker | harness maker |
| geestelijke | clergyman |
| gemeente ontvanger | municipal official |
| gemeenteraadslid | councilman, town councilor |
| geneesheer | physician |
| gepensioneerd | retired |
| geweermaker | gunsmith |
| gezworene | juryman, person under oath |
| gilde registers | guild records |
| glasblazer | glassblower |
| goudsmid | goldsmith |
| graaf | count, earl |
| grafdelver | gravedigger |
| graveur | engraver |
| grofsmid | blacksmith |
| grondeigenaren | property owners |
| groothandelaar | trader, merchant |
| gruttersknecht | grocer's hand |
| handel | trade, occupation |
| handwerksgezel | journeyman |
| heer | master, gentleman, Mr. |
| heerschappen | gentry, lords |
| heier | pile driver |
| herbergier | innkeeper |
| herder | shepherd |
| hertog | duke |
| hertogdom | duchy |
| hertogin | duchess |
| hoedenmaakster | hat maker |
| hoefsmid | blacksmith |
| hoer | harlot |
| hondenslager | dog killer |
| horlogemaker | watchmaker |
| houthakker | wood-cutter |
| houthandelaar | timber merchant |
| houtskool brander | charcoal burner |
| houtvester | forester |
| huisschilder | house painter |
| huisvrouw | wife |
| huurman | hired man |
| ijzergiester | foundry man |
| industrieel | industrialist |
| ing. | (abbreviation for ingenieur) civil engineer |
| ingenieur | civil engineer |
| inlandsche | peddler |
| inwoner | inhabitant, citizen |
| jager | hunter |
| juwelier | jeweler |
| kaarsenmaker | candle maker |
| kaarsmaker | candle-maker |
| kaasman | cheesemaker |
| kalkbrander | lime burner |
| kapelaan | curate |
| kapper | hairdresser |
| karman | coachman |
| karreman | cartman |
| kassier | cashier |
| kasteel | castle |
| kasteleijn | inn-keeper |
| katoenspinner | cotton spinner |
| kelner | waiter |
| kerk meester | church warden |
| kerk voogt | church warden |
| keukenmeid | kitchen maid |
| kledinghandelaar | clothier |
| kleedermaker | tablecloth maker |
| kleermaker | tailor |
| kleijmaker | claymaker |
| klerk | clerk |
| klompenmaker | wooden shoemaker |
| knecht | servant |
| koekbakker | confectioner |
| koetsier | coachman |
| kofferbeslager | luggage smith |
| koffiehuishouder | cafe proprietor |
| kok | cook |
| koning | king |
| koningin | queen |
| koopman | merchant |
| koopvaarder | merchantman |
| koperslager | coppersmith |
| korendrager | wheat carrier |
| koster | sexton |
| kramer | peddler |
| kroeghouder | bar keeper |
| kruier | porter |
| kuijper | cooper |
| Kuiper | cooper |
| Kunstschilder | artist |
| Laarzenmaker | bootmaker |
| Lakenvoller | clothier |
| Lakenwever | weaver |
| land verlatend | emigrant |
| landbouwer | farmer |
| landlieden | farmers |
| landman | cottager, farmer |
| lantaarnopsteker | streetlamp lighter |
| ldm. | (abbreviation for lidmaat) church member |
| leemvormer | clay molder |
| leerjongen | apprentice |
| leerling | student, apprentice, pupil |
| leerlooier | tanner |
| leerlooijer | tanner |
| leraar | teacher |
| leurder | hawker |
| lidmaat | church member |
| liefdezuster | nun |
| lijn-draaier | rope-maker |
| lijnslager | rope maker |
| likeurstoker | distiller |
| linnenwever | linen weaver |
| lintwerker | linen weaver |
| lithograaf | lithographer |
| logementhouder | innkeeper |
| looier | tanner |
| machinist | engineer |
| makelaar | broker |
| mandenmaker | basket maker |
| mandenvlechter | basket weaver |
| marsdrager | peddler |
| marskramer | peddler |
| mastmaker | mastmaker |
| matig | poor |
| matroos | sailor |
| medicus | physician |
| meier | tenant farmer, bailiff |
| meisje | maiden, girl |
| melkerij | dairy |
| melkfabriek | dairy |
| metselaar | mason, bricklayer |
| meubelmaker | furniture maker |
| mijnwerker | miner |
| militaire | military |
| minderjarig | minor |
| mineur | miner |
| modderman | dredger |
| modemaakster | milliner |
| modiste | milliner |
| molen | mill |
| molenaar | miller |
| molenmaker | windmill maker |
| naaister | seamstress |
| nabuur | neighbor |
| nachtwacht | night watch |
| natuurkundige | physicist |
| neger | Negro |
| onderwijzer | teacher |
| onderwijzeres | teacher (female) |
| ontvanger | tax collector |
| oppasser | caretaker |
| opziener | overseer |
| orgelmaker | organmaker |
| paarddriller | horse trainer |
| pachter | tenant farmer, leaser |
| pakkendrager | delivery man |
| papiermaker | paper-maker |
| parapluiemaker | umbrella maker |
| particulier | private person |
| pastor | priest; Catholic priest |
| patroon | employer |
| pettenmaker | cap maker |
| photograaf | photographer |
| plaatsbewaarster | seat caretaker |
| planter | planter |
| ploeger | plowman |
| politieagent | policeman |
| porter | citizen, freeman |
| postbode | mailman |
| pottenbakker | potter |
| pottenmakker | pot maker |
| predikant | minister |
| priester | Catholic priest |
| prins | prince |
| prinses | princess |
| professor | university professor |
| radelaar | wheelwright |
| radmaker | wheelwright |
| reitdekker | roofer, thatcher |
| rijtuig | harness maker |
| ronselaar | ship shanghai |
| scheepsbouwer | shipbuilder |
| scheepsmaker | ship builder |
| scheepstimmerman | ship's carpenter |
| schepen | alderman |
| schilder | painter |
| schoenmaker | shoemaker |
| schoolmeester | schoolmaster |
| schoorsteenveger | chimney sweeper |
| schriver | writer |
| secretaries | secretary |
| slager | butcher |
| smid | smith |
| steenbakker | brickmaker |
| steendelver | stonecutter |
| steenhouwer | stonemason |
| stoelenmaker | chair maker |
| straatmaker | street paver |
| strandjutter | beachcomber |
| stratenmaker | street paver |
| stukadoor | plasterer |
| suikerbakker | sugar-baker |
| tapper | tavern owner |
| tekenaar | designer |
| telegrafist | telegrapher |
| timmerlieden | carpenter |
| timmerman | carpenter |
| tinnegieter | tinsmith |
| tolgaarder | tolltaker |
| touwslager | rope maker |
| traankoker | whale-oil worker |
| turfsteker | peat cutter |
| uitdekker | roofer |
| uitdraagster | second-hand dealer |
| uitgever | publisher |
| uurwerkmaker | clockmaker |
| varensgezel | sailor |
| veearts | veterinarian |
| veehouder | cattle farmer |
| veloarbeider | field hand |
| venter | peddler |
| verfmaker | paintmaker |
| verloskundige | midwife |
| verpleegster | nurse |
| verwer | dyer |
| visscher | fisherman |
| voerman | coach driver |
| voller | fuller |
| vondeling | abandoned child |
| vrouw | woman, wife, female |
| waaiermaker | fan maker |
| waard | innkeeper |
| wagenmaker | wagon maker |
| washvrouw | washwoman |
| workman | workman; laborer |
| wielmaker | wheelwright |
| winkelier | shopkeeper |
| zeelieden | sailors |
| zeepzieder | soap maker |
| zeilmaker | sail-maker |
| zendeling | missionary |
| zijdewerker | silk worker |
| zilversmid | silversmith |
| zoutbereider | salt maker |
| zoutzieder | salt maker |
| zwager | brother-in-law |