05. CLASSES & OCCUPATIONS

apothecary- a person who prepares and sells drugs and potions

brewer- one who brews and sells alcohol of many kinds

banker- one who presides over banks and handles money for others

collier- one who makes or sells charcoal and coal

fishmonger- a person who sells fish and other seafoods

fueller- one who sells charcoal, wood, or other fuels

greengrocer- seller of vegetables and fruits

linen-draper- one who deals in linens and other draperies

peddler- a merchant who deals in "cheap" goods

skinner- a dealer in furs and skins

spicer- grocer or dealer in spices

**These are some basic merchants that can be found just about anywhere. Note that some merchants are higher-ranked and wealthier as they may handle multiple trades, with these basic merchants working beneath or for them.


accountant - a person who keeps track of finances, also a clerk.

barber- a man who cuts hair, usually for other men, and shaves or trims beards.

caretaker-A woman usually caring for another's child, at times they may raise them from when they were babes

clerk- someone who provides basic services and keeps track of the finances.

doctor- may be called something else depending on location. treats illnesses, injuries, and wounds.

caravan driver- A person who readies a team of wagons, or a wagon; to deliver goods by contract.

cook- someone who cooks, especially food. within a household there is usually a head cook.

executioner- a man employed to perform executions in the name of the ruling class.

gardener- a man employed to maintain a garden of some home or building.

head maid/butler- the male and/or female leader who manage the servants and household of a noble.

lawyer- a master of the law who represents clients before a judge.

maid/maidservant- the general maids of a manor who complete tasks from cleaning to cooking to entertaining..

midwife- a woman who specializes in the delivery of babies.

quartermaster- a member of an establishment, usually the military, in charge of providing quarters, rations, clothing, and other supplies.

seneschal/steward- senior steward of a wealthy house.

servant- male or female, a person who serves under another; performing tasks from menial tasks to hard labor.

stableman- someone who is responsible mostly, if not entirely; for the stables.

surgeon- a doctor that performs surgeries on people.

innkeeper- the owner and keeper of an inn.


bard- a poet who often practices at an instrument to tell stories, epic poems, and other oral traditions.

fool- a jester, or one who makes jokes to entertain others.

mummer- actor, similar to mimes.

songwriter- someone who writes music.

painter- someone who paints for a living.

player- this term is used for traveling entertainers, many of which are very good actors.

playwright- someone who writes plays and other shows.

poet- a person who writes and publishes poetry.

sculptor a person who makes sculptures.

singer- someone who sings to entertain people.

troubadour- a lyrical poet who specializes in songs and composes on the theme of courtly love.

author- someone who authors books and other writings.


cobbler/cordwainer- a person who makes new shoes, usually out of leather. also called shoemaker.

tailor- a person who makes and repairs clothing out of various materials, can often be found working with weavers.

jeweler- a maker of jewelry.

mason- a person who uses various types of stone in building and other crafts.

carpenter- a person who works with wood to construct building and tools.

weaver- a person who weaves cloth out of various materials.

chandler- a person who makes candles.

baker- a person who prepares bread and other baked goods.

butcher- a person who butchers animals for their meat, providing different cuts for sale.

blacksmith- one who works with metal to form metal tools for various activities (such as farming, riding tack, and weapons).

locksmith- one who makes and repairs locks.

leather-worker- a person who tans and works with leather to create an assortment of goods.

architect- a designer of buildings and other constructions.

armorer- a blacksmith that specializes in creation and repair of armor.

bowyer- maker of bows.

fletcher- a person who makes and sells arrows (specifically known for adding feathers to the ends of arrows).

glassblower- one who makes glass objects by blowing air into the glass to make shapes.

goldsmith- a worker in precious metals, specifically gold. there are also silversmiths.

** There are many other craftsmen than those listed here. If it can be crafted then there is an occupation for it. These are some of the most important craftsmen in a medieval society.


sailor- a man who works on a ship, usually in the sea or ocean.

navigator- one who helps navigate using different methods (e.g. the stars, maps). may work on a boat or may work for land-faring parties of travelers. 

ship captain- the captain of a ship. usually not the owner of the ship, but is in charge of every person aboard the ship while it is sailing.

guide- a guide may refer to many things. in this case it refers to a person who guides other on a journey

treasure hunter- one or more persons who travel the world in order to excavate or otherwise obtain lost relics and artifacts.


drover- someone who drives herds of sheep, cattle, or other animals to market. usually hired by someone.

falconer-one who breeds, trains, hunts with falcons or hawks.

fisherman- one whose main way of earning money is through fishing.

forester- game warden or forest ranger. gamekeeper. sometimes hired by a wealthy house that hunts on it's own property.

horse trainer- one who trains and breaks horses for riding.

huntsman/hunter- someone who hunts wild animals for sustenance or as a primary means of making money.

master of hounds- a man in charge of breeding and maintaining hunting hounds, usually for a wealthy family.


chimney sweep- one who cleans chimneys and smokestacks.

gravedigger- person in charge of digging graves for the deceased.

farmer- a person of low-standing who looks after (usually their own) fields and livestock.

farmhand- people, male or female; who work on farms.

miller- the person who gathers wheat, makes it into grains, then turns grains into flour.

miner- those who perform manual labor in the mines

rat catcher- one who catches rats in gardens, houses, or on farms. Usually low-ranking servants or the children of servants.

shepherd- one who looks after herds of livestock, often children or peasant.

beggar- a poor person who survives by begging for food or money from others.

housewife- a woman who stays home and cares for the house and children while her husband works.


thief-- a person, or group of people; who commit various acts of theft- many street urchins are considered this by default.

fence- one who trades in stolen goods.

harlot- a loose woman, woman in a brothel.

outlaw- bandits and other no-gooders often at odds with the law due to their robberies, violence, etc.

poacher- one who illegally kills animals, usually on somebody else's land.

prostitute- one who sells sex.

stewsman- a brothel keeper.

cutpurse/pickpocket- a person who is skilled at stealing money and other valuables from people's pockets or purses.

thimblerigger- a professional sharper who runs a thimblerig (a game in which a small object is ostensibly hidden under a thimble and players guess which thimble it is under).