French Historical Occupations Dictionary for Genealogy
Understanding occupational terms in French historical records can provide valuable insights into your ancestors’ daily lives. This glossary translates and explains French occupations terminology. These terms are commonly found in civil records, parish registers, censuses, and other genealogical documents. They date from the 16th to early 20th centuries.
Agricultural Occupations (Métiers agricoles)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculteur/Agricultrice | Farmer | General term for someone who farms land |
| Cultivateur/Cultivatrice | Cultivator/Farmer | Common term in 18th-19th century records |
| Laboureur | Plowman/Wealthy farmer | Owned plow animals and equipment, often had status |
| Journalier | Day laborer | Agricultural worker hired daily, lowest rural status |
| Fermier/Fermière | Tenant farmer | Rented and operated a farm belonging to someone else |
| Métayer/Métayère | Sharecropper | Farmed land in exchange for giving landowner portion of crop |
| Vigneron/Vigneronne | Winegrower | Cultivated grapes and often produced wine |
| Jardinier/Jardinière | Gardener | Cultivated vegetables, fruits, flowers |
| Bûcheron/Bûcheronne | Woodcutter/Lumberjack | Cut and prepared timber from forests |
| Berger/Bergère | Shepherd/Shepherdess | Tended sheep or goats |
| Vacher/Vachère | Cowherd | Tended cattle |
| Meunier/Meunière | Miller | Operated grain mill (water or wind powered) |
| Garde-champêtre | Rural policeman | Enforced regulations in rural communities |
| Palefrenier | Groom/Stable hand | Cared for horses |
| Charretier/Charretière | Carter/Wagoner | Transported goods by cart or wagon |
Craft and Trade Occupations (Artisanat)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan | Craftsman | General term for skilled manual worker |
| Boulanger/Boulangère | Baker | Made and sold bread |
| Boucher/Bouchère | Butcher | Prepared and sold meat |
| Charpentier | Carpenter | Built wooden structures and frameworks |
| Charron | Cartwright/Wheelwright | Made and repaired carts and wagons |
| Cordier | Ropemaker | Made ropes and cords |
| Cordonnier/Cordonnière | Shoemaker/Cobbler | Made and repaired footwear |
| Couvreur | Roofer | Built and repaired roofs |
| Ébéniste | Cabinetmaker | Made fine wooden furniture |
| Ferblantier | Tinsmith | Worked with thin metal sheets |
| Forgeron | Blacksmith | Worked with iron, made tools and horseshoes |
| Maçon | Mason/Bricklayer | Built with stone and brick |
| Maréchal-ferrant | Farrier | Specialized in horseshoeing |
| Menuisier | Joiner/Carpenter | Made wooden furnishings and fittings |
| Sabotier | Wooden shoemaker | Made wooden clogs (sabots) |
| Sellier | Saddler | Made and repaired saddles and harnesses |
| Tailleur/Tailleuse | Tailor/Seamstress | Made clothing |
| Tanneur | Tanner | Processed animal hides into leather |
| Tisserand/Tisserande | Weaver | Made cloth on a loom |
| Tonnelier | Cooper | Made and repaired barrels and casks |
| Tourneur | Turner | Crafted items on a lathe |
Commercial Occupations (Commerce)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Marchand/Marchande | Merchant/Shopkeeper | General term for a trader or shop owner |
| Aubergiste | Innkeeper | Ran an establishment offering lodging and meals |
| Cabaretier/Cabaretière | Tavern keeper | Ran a tavern or public house |
| Colporteur/Colporteuse | Peddler/Hawker | Traveling seller of goods |
| Épicier/Épicière | Grocer | Sold food and household supplies |
| Limonadier/Limonadière | Café owner | Ran a café selling beverages |
| Mercier/Mercière | Mercer/Haberdasher | Sold textiles and sewing supplies |
| Négociant | Wholesale merchant | Larger-scale trader, often international |
| Quincaillier | Hardware merchant | Sold metal goods and tools |
| Voyageur de commerce | Commercial traveler | Traveling salesperson representing businesses |
| Commissionnaire | Broker/Agent | Intermediary in commercial transactions |
| Courtier | Broker | Arranged sales between parties for commission |
Administrative and Military Professions (Professions administratives et militaires)
| French Term | English Translation | Context and Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Avocat | Lawyer | Legal professional (different from modern attorney) |
| Clerc | Clerk | Office worker, often in legal or church setting |
| Écrivain public | Public writer | Wrote letters and documents for illiterate people |
| Fonctionnaire | Civil servant | Government employee |
| Garde-forestier | Forest ranger | Protected and managed forests |
| Huissier | Court bailiff/Usher | Served legal papers, executed court decisions |
| Instituteur/Institutrice | Schoolteacher | Primary school teacher |
| Juge | Judge | Presided over court proceedings |
| Maire | Mayor | Head of local government |
| Médecin | Physician/Doctor | Medical practitioner |
| Notaire | Notary | Created legal documents (broader role than modern notaries) |
| Percepteur | Tax collector | Collected taxes for government |
| Procureur | Prosecutor | Represented state in legal proceedings |
| Receveur | Receiver/Collector | Official who collected specific taxes or fees |
| Sergent de ville | Policeman | Urban law enforcement officer |
| Soldat | Soldier | Military rank, common soldier |
| Capitaine | Captain | Military officer rank |
| Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Military officer rank |
| Colonel | Colonel | Higher military officer rank |
| Garde national | National guardsman | Member of civilian militia (post-Revolution) |
| Douanier | Customs officer | Border and port taxation official |
Understanding Occupational Status in French Records
When interpreting French occupations genealogical records, consider these important contextual factors:
Status Indicators
- Terms like “maître” (master) before an occupation indicate guild membership and higher status
- “Compagnon” indicates a journeyman working under a master
- “Apprenti” refers to an apprentice learning a trade
Regional Variations
- Many occupational terms varied by region
- Some professions existed only in specific areas (e.g., mining, maritime occupations)
- Local dialects might use non-standard French terms
Historical Context
- Many traditional French occupations disappeared during industrialization
- The guild system was abolished during the French Revolution (1791)
- Women’s occupations were often underreported in official records
This glossary is part of our comprehensive French Genealogy Dictionary. For terms related to other document types, please visit our main dictionary page.
Last updated: April 16, 2025
