Most of our ancestors were hard-working people. They had to be to survive. I bet if you had to guess you’d say that every one of your ancestors was a farmer. Even though farming was one of the most common occupations in every community, many skills were needed to keep it thriving.
In this blog post, you’ll discover a resource to learn the meanings of those old occupations and where to find them in records.
As I travel everyday for my job, I see the working farms of this country. Farming was and still is a necessary way of life, but that doesn’t mean all of your ancestors were farmers.
Resource For Occupations
When you find occupations in the records, do you know their meaning? If you don’t know, do you take the time to find out? Well, in either case, here’s a wonderful resource that can help with almost every occupation your ancestor had.
Jane and Paul Jack Hewitt put together a dictionary and website of many (and I do mean many) old occupation names and descriptions. You can find the link here.
Some of my ancestors worked as a yeoman, physician, merchant, laborer, carpenter, coal miner, grocery store owner, and of course, farmer.
FamilySearch also has a page on their website dedicated to businesses and occupations. They have many links to help you dig into your ancestors’ work lives. You can read that here.
Where To Find Occupations In The Records
Census Records
Starting with the 1850 census, you’ll find all sorts of information about your ancestors, including details about their occupations. But don’t just think of the population schedules (the ones that pop up in the hints and tell you about your ancestor’s household).
The non-population census records like the mortality schedule and the industry schedule also list occupations or the types of businesses in the area your ancestor lived.
If you’ve never used non-population schedules before, you can find out more in my blog post, 4 Ways “Other” Census Records Can Help Your Genealogy Research.
All of the big genealogy sites like Ancestry and FamilySearch will have census records.
Vital Records
Marriage and death certificates may include the occupation of the individual named on the certificate. Birth certificates may list the occupation of the father and mother of the child.
All of these records can provide answers or at the very least, clues into what your ancestor did for a living.
Many vital records are online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage. If you don’t locate them there you’ll need to find out whether they existed on the state, county, or town level and contact the appropriate office.
City Directories
City directories are often overlooked in genealogy research, but they shouldn’t be. Since the census is only taken every 10 years, old city directories can give you a yearly snapshot of where your ancestor was and their occupation.
Ancestry and MyHeritage have robust city directory collections. But you can also find them at a local library or historical society.
Combining city directories and newspapers is a wonderful way to discover more about your ancestors. Read this blog post to see how I used these two record sets to find our more about my 2x great-grandfather, Frederick Stabley.
Land And Property Records
Land and property records may or may not directly state an ancestor’s occupation. If they don’t, these documents can offer clues. For example, if your ancestor owned a farm or a business property, it’s likely that their occupation was related to agriculture or commerce.
Check out my blog post on The Value of Land Records in Genealogy Research. You’ll learn what information is in them and where to find them.
My go-to site for land records is FamilySearch.
Newspapers
Newspapers are another valuable resource when researching your ancestors’ occupations. While census and vital records are more official, newspapers give a more personal glimpse into your ancestors’ lives. They didn’t have social media back then, so newspapers were a wonderful way to report on local events and personal achievements.
Don’t overlook obituaries in newpapers. Your ancestor’s occupation was sure to be included. Here is the obituary of my great-grandfather who owned Mack’s Grocery Store.
Two of the best places to go for newspapers is Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank.
How Occupations Changed Over Time
As you trace your family history, you might notice that the jobs your ancestors had changed a lot over the years. These changes weren’t just random—they often reflected a shift in technology and opportunity.
In the 1700s, many people worked in farming. It was hard work, but it was the main way to make a living. If you were a farmer, your kids probably grew up to be farmers, too. But things started to change in the 1800s.
The Industrial Revolution in the United States brought factories and new kinds of work. Some people left the farms to work in cities, where they found jobs in factories, mills, or as tradesmen like blacksmiths or carpenters. These jobs could be tough, but they often paid better than farming and offered more stability.
By the 1900s, things were changing even more. New technologies created jobs that hadn’t existed before. People became office workers, teachers, nurses, and salespeople. These jobs were often seen as more respectable or secure, and they offered chances for advancement.
The occupations your ancestors had progressed with the changing times. They had to adapt if they wanted a better life for them and their families. They moved from the hard, physical labor of farming and factory work to jobs that required different skills and offered better pay and working conditions.
Finally
As genealogists we are always looking for ways to tell our ancestors’ stories. Knowing their occupations is important to understanding how they lived day-to-day. To get a clearer picture, explore census and vital records, city directories, land records, and newspapers. These sources can reveal details that truly bring your ancestors’ stories to life.
Genealogy tip: It’s important to keep track of all the occupations your ancestor had over time. By recording this information in a log or Word document you’ll stay organized, but more importantly, you’ll learn so much more about your ancestor.
Your ancestor’s occupation was one piece of their story. To learn more about them let me help you with your research or do the research for you. Click below to get started.
