• dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world
      3·
      5 days ago

      Also, a bunch of Wrights too: Cartwright, Wainwright, Shipwright, Wheelright, etc.

      Then there’s just plain occupational names: Miller, Farmer, Thatcher, and so on.

      Had this tradition continued, the information age would have given us: Chipwright, Cloudwright, Videosmith, Hacksmith, Coder, Tester, Gamer, Printer, and probably a ton more.

      • merc@sh.itjust.works
        9·
        5 days ago

        I always found it fun to learn about these old timey professions that (basically) no longer exist, but still exist as names, like:

        • Cooper: a craftsman who makes barrels, casks, etc.,
        • Hooper: an assistant to the cooper. Someone who put the hoops (bands of metal or wood) around the barrels. This one is especially good because coopers took over the job of putting the bands on, so the job died off while “cooper” still existed as a job, yet there are still people with that name
        • Fuller / Walker: a person who softens and cleans wool, sometimes by walking on it, sometimes using the hands
        • Clark: this one still exists, but is spelled and pronounced differently as “clerk”.
        • Turner: someone who operated a lathe. Basically a specialized machinist.
        • Marshall: this is a fun one. Originally it had to do with horses, it was “mareshal”, but then somehow evolved to be a high officer of the court, unrelated to “martial” which sounds the same but comes from “Mars” the god of war.
        • Parker: The job exists now, but is more “park ranger” or just “ranger”
        • Baxter: Baker – but the feminine form of the word. Similarly “Webster” is the female form of “Weber” (Weaver), Brewster is the female version of Brewer, Spinster is the female form of Spinner, etc.
        • Carter: someone who moves goods with a cart
          • merc@sh.itjust.works
            2·
            3 days ago

            “Court” I think, in this sense, was the king’s court, not a judicial court. But, I think you’re onto something about how it started as someone who took care of horses then probably evolved to being in charge of horses or something, to then being the official with the big job related to horses. I guess it’s a bit like how “secretary” can be either a person making near minimum wage who does office work, or it can be the most powerful person in the cabinet who deals with X.