Surnames, Naming Traditions, Meaning and Origin
Surnames deriving from occupation
- Category:
- Written by Anders Buch-Jepsen
Another group of surnames refer directly to the particular trade, craft or occupation of the first bearer. The group comprises easily recognizable names relating to agriculture, manufacturing, retail or to an office, rank, or status, and will therefore tell us what the first bearer did for a living. In this article you will find a group of the most common occupational names in Denmark.
 A traditional Danish mill. Some millers acquired their surname from their occupation: 'Møller'
|
Bager |
Baker |
Brygger/Brøgger |
Brewer |
Bødker |
Cooper |
Degn |
Parish Clerk |
Drejer/Dreyer |
Turner |
Farver |
Dyer |
Fisker/Fischer |
Fisher |
Jæger |
Hunter |
Kusk |
Driver |
Munk/Munch/Munck |
Monk |
Møller, Müller |
Miller |
Rytter |
Rider |
Skytte |
Gamekeeper |
Skrædder, Schrøder |
Taylor |
Smed, Schmidt |
Smith |
Snedker |
Wright |
Some surnames are formed by a comibation of the name of the occupation and the suffix -man, e.g. Færgemand. Similar names has the suffix -mager (''maker'') added, e.g. Skomager.
Færgemand |
Ferryman |
Handskemager |
Glover |
Skomager |
Shoemaker |
Some surnames describes the office or rank of the bearer and tells us what function or role he had in the community.
Degn |
Parish clerk |
Fog, Fogh, Foged |
Bailiff |
Junker/Juncher |
Squire, ~young nobleman |
Konge |
~distinguished man (literaly: King) |
Munk/Munch |
Monk |
Præst |
Vicar, priest |
Skriver, Schriver |
Registrar, scribe |
Some surnames has derived from the exact status of their ancestors signified by surnames such as Bonde.
Bonde |
Peasant (hist.), farmer |
Frimand |
Freeman |
Selvejer |
Freeman, farmer |
As with nicknames, a large number of other occupational names are found in medieval records. Many of these later became extinct or simply failed to become hereditary due to the late adaption of family names in Denmark.
