# What careers or trades existed in or before the Middle Ages?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 4, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153 "2013-06-04T20:53:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153/21 "2013-06-05T09:50:24Z")

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The guild system would be some guide. Lawyers and Doctors existed in that era (and in Roman times).

Also I presume you mean in Europe. The rest of the world would have a different answer.

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**Author:** ![Gratian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e56c9b/32.png) [@Gratian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gratian)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153/22 "2013-06-05T11:13:07Z")

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> [@RobDog](#):
>
> Afore ye go:
> 
> [List Of Medieval European Professions - The Arcana Wiki](http://arcana.wikidot.com/list-of-medieval-european-professions)

Holy mother of trades! Thanks! 😃

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**Author:** ![Gratian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e56c9b/32.png) [@Gratian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gratian)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153/23 "2013-06-05T11:15:57Z")

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> [@AK84](#):
>
> The guild system would be some guide. Lawyers and Doctors existed in that era (and in Roman times).
> 
> Also I presume you mean in Europe. The rest of the world would have a different answer.

Well yes, but answers from the rest of the world is also welcome. I want it to be as broad as possible- have any input from the rest of Earth :)?

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153/24 "2013-06-05T14:59:36Z")

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Midwife, Abortionist, Pimp, Soldier, Sailor, Undertaker, Torturer, Rabbi, Mohel. The first two occupations often overlaped.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-careers-or-trades-existed-in-or-before-the-middle-ages/660153/25 "2013-06-06T05:40:18Z")

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That was about the same time most people were beginning to have last names. Often those names were taken from their professions. So look for professions that are also common last names.  
Miller  
Smith  
Black[smith], Gold[smith], White[smith], etc.  
Green[grocer]  
Cooper (barrel maker)  
Tailor (maybe spelled Taylor now)  
Carpenter  
Fisher  
Brewster  
Baker  
Parson, Bishop, Deacon (now Dean)  
Thatcher  
Clerk (now Clark)  
[Wheel]Wright  
Cook  
Hunter  
Tanner, Skinner

There are many of them – I’d guess about a third of Last names come from old professions.

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