Denmark Occupations

Knowing an ancestor's occupation can help you distinguish him from other individuals with the same name. In addition, the records associated with his occupation could provide information about his life and family.

Common Danish Occupations
For another alphabetized list of occupations, with their English translations, see http://www.folketimidten.dk/gb.htm.

For information on tenant farmers in Denmark, see this article.

A
Adel- nobility Adelig- noble Adelsmand- nobleman Adjudant- assistant to a senior officer in the military Advokat- attorney Aftægtsfolk- retired people Aftægtskone- retired woman Aftægtsmand- retired man Agent- agent Almisse- alms, welfare Almisselem- pauper, welfare recipient Amtmand- chief county administrator Amtsforratter- county commissioner Arbejder- worker Arbejdsmand- worker, laborer Arvinger- heirs

B
Bager- baker Behersker- ruler, lord, master Besidder- owner Bestilling- occupation Betjent- policeman Betler, tigger- beggar Beværter- innkeeper Birchedomer, Birkedommer- birke judge Blikkenslager- tinsmith Boelsmand- farmer Boghandler - book seller Bogholder- bookkeeper, accountant Bonde- farmer Borger- citizen Borgmester- Mayor Brygmester- brewer Brændehugger- woodcutter Brændevinsbrænder- distiller of spirits Bydreng- delivery boy Bygmester- builder Bypige- delivery girl Bødker- cooper Børstenbinder- brush-maker Bøssemager- gunsmith Baadebygger- shipbuilder Baadsmand- boatswain, bosun

C
Chauffør- chauffeur/driver

D
Daglejer- day worker Degn- parish clerk, deacon Degnen- the parish clerk, deacon Dommer- judge Drager- porter, carrier Dragon- a dragoon (a member of a military unit composed of heavily armed mounted troops) Dreier, drejer- turner (wood or ceramic) Dreier-keramisk- ceramic thrower Dronning- queen

E
Ejer- owner Ekviperingshandler - boutiques/clothing handler Emigrant- emigrant Enk. = enke, enkekone- widow Enkem. = enkemand- widower

F
Fabriksarbejder- factory worker Fange- prisoner Farver- color dyer Fattig- poor, indigent Fattiglem- pauper Fiskehandler- fishdealer Fisker- fisherman Foged- bailiff, official, sheriff Forbryder- criminal Forhandler- dealer Forladefoged- baliff of the manor Formynder- guardian Forpagter- lessee, tenant Forvalter- administrator, agent, manager Fourer- quartermaster sergeant Frille- mistress, concubine Frimand- freeholder Frisør- hairdresser Frøken- miss., not a peasant woman Fuldmægtig- attorney, advocate, head clerk Fyrmester- lighthouse keeper Fæstebonde- copyholder, leaseholder, farmer Fæstegårdmand- copyholder, leaseholder, farmer Fæstebonde, -mand- leaseholder on a farm Fæster- person who is leasing Fårehyrde- shepherd

G
Gaardmand- farmer Garde- guard Gartner- gardener Garver- tanner Gaardbeboer- people living on a farmejstlig Gejstlig- ecclesiastical Gesandt- minister Gevær soldat- rifle soldier Gjørtlemager- brazier, castings maker Godsejer- estate owner Graverkarl- grave digger Gravør- engraver Grenader- infantryman Greve- count (nobility) Grevinde- countess Grosserer- merchant Grovsmed- blacksmith Grubearbejder- miner Grønthandler- greengrocer Gæstgiver- innkeeper Gaardbeboer- people living on a farm Gårdbruger, gaardbruger- farm owner Gårdejer, gaardejer- farm owner Gårdfæster, gaardfæster- leaseholder, tenant Gårdmand, gaardmand- farmer Gørtler- brazier

H
Handelsmand- merchant, trader, salesman Handler- merchant Handskemager- glove maker Hattemager- hatmaker Herremand- lord of the manor Herskabskusk- coachman Herskerinde- mistress Hestehandler- horse dealer Hjulmand- wheelwright Hovedbogholder- chief accountant Hovmester- butler Hugaf- old soldier Hugger- sculptor Husar, hussar- cavalryman Husbonde- husband, head of house Husejer- owner of house Husfader- head of the household Husfolk- small farmers, about a couple Husholderske- housekeeper Husmand- cottager, small farmer Husmand med Jord- cottager with land Husmoder, huusmoder- wife, homemaker Hyrde- herdsman, shepherd Højædle og velbaarne- noble and welborn Høker- small shop keeper Håndensarbejdere- manuel workers

I
Incassator - collector, collecting money on another's behalf Inderste- tenant, renter Indsidder- tenant, renter Indvandrer- immigrant Inkassator - collector, collecting money on another's behalf

J
Jomfru- maiden, miss., not a peasant woman, virgin Jordløs husmand- landless cottager Jordmoder- midwife Jurist- lawyer Jæger- hunter

K
Kammerjomfru- lady’s chambermaid Kammerpige- lady’s chambermaid Karetmager- coach builder Karl- youth, farmhand Kioskbud- convenience store messenger/errand runner Kirkeværge- church warden Kleinsmed- locksmith Klerk- clergyman, clerk Klokker- clock, bell, bell ringer Koffardiskib- merchantman Kommis- shop assistant, clerk Kommunemand- city official Kongsbonde- farmer working on the king's land Kromand- innkeeper Kropsarbejder- manual worker Kræmmer- shopkeeper Krøbling- a cripple Kulgrosserer- coal merchant Kusk. kudsk- coachman, teamster Kvæghyrde- cattle herdsman, cowboy Købmand- merchant, storekeeper

L
Land boelsmand- tenant farmer Landmand-farmer Landsoldat- soldier Lappeskomager- shoemaker, cobbler Laugværge- guardian Lavværge- widow’s spokesman (guardian) Lejer- tenant Lensherre- feudal overlord Leverandør- supplier, contractor Logerende- tenant Læge- doctor Lærer- teacher Lærling- student, apprentice

M
Madmoder- woman of the house, housewife Maitresse- mistress Maler- painter Malkepige- dairymaid Marinesoldat- sailor Matros- sailor Medhustru- concubine, secondary wife Mejerist- dairyman Mejerske- dairymaid Mester- master (trade) Minearbejder- miner Murer- mason Musiker- musician Mælkekusk- milkman Mælkepige- dairymaid Mø- maid/maiden/virgin Møbelhandler- furniture dealer Møllebygger- millwright Møller- miller

N
Nabo- neighbor Nagtvægter- night watchman Nedslagte- butcher Nyfder almisse, nyder almisse- receives alms, welfare Næringsdrivende- tradesman Nævning- juror

O
Oberst- colonel Omflakkende- vagabond Omstrejfer- vagabond, tramp, vagrant Opvaskepige- scullery maid Overgartner- head gardener

P
Parcellist- holder of a small plot of land Plovmand- ploughman, 500 kroner note Portner- doorkeeper, porter Portvagt- gatekeeper Positivspiller- organ grinder Postbud- postman Pottemager- potter Prammand- bargeman Prins- prince Prinsesse- princess Provst- rural dean Præst, præsten- priest, the priest, clergyman, minister

R
Rebslager-rope maker Rector, Rektor- headmaster Reder- shipowner Ridder- knight Ritmester- captain (milit., of horse) Rodemester- tax collector Rytter- cavalryman Røgter- herdsman Røver- robber, highwayman Raadmand- councilman, alderman

S
Sadelmager- saddle maker Sagfører, advokat- lawyer Selvejer- farm owner, freeholder Skatteopkræver- tax collector Skibsbygger- ship builder Skibsfører- ship master Skibskaptajn- ship master, captian Skifteforvalter- probate administrator, probate agent Skoflikker- cobbler Skoleholder- school master, teacher Skolelærer- school master, teacher Skomager- shoemaker Skorstensfejer- chimney sweep Skovarbejder- woodman, lumberjack Skovfoged- forester, forest ranger Skovløbere- assistant to the Skovfoged Skovridere- head forester, forest ranger Skriver- scribe Skrædder- tailor Slagter- butcher Slavehandler- slave dealer Slusemester- lock keeper Slusepasser- locksman Slutter- jailer Smed- smith Snedker- cabinetmaker Sognefoged- sheriff, constable Sognet- the parish Sognepræst- parish priest, clergyman, minister Sognepræsten- the parish priest Soldat- soldier Soldaten- the soldier Spillemand- musician, fiddler Stenhugger- stonecutter Studehandler- horsetrader Stuepige- housemaid Styrmand- officer Svend- journeyman Syersker- seamstress Sypige- seamstress Søfolk- seamen, sailors Søkaptajn- sea captain Sømand- sailor

T
Tandlæge- dentist Teglbrænder- brick burner Teglmager- brickmaker Tehandler- tea dealer Tjeneste- servant Tigger, tiggerske, betler- beggar Tingmanden- court officer Træskærer-woodcarver Tyende- servant Tøffelmager- slipper maker Tømmermand- carpenter Tømrer- carpenter

U
Uden jord- without land Underskrevne- signer Ungkarl, ungk.- bachelor Urmager- clock or watch maker Urtekræmmer- grocer

V/W
Vagabond- vagabond Vanfør- crippled, disabled Varmemester- boilerman Vaskekone- washwoman, laundress Vejmand- road man, road mender Velborn- noble, wellborn Velærværdig- reverend Velbyrdige- nobleman Vinhandler- wine merchant Vitterligshedsmænd- appraisers Vognmand- teamster Vurderingsmand- appraiser Vægter- night watchman Værge- guardian Værtshusholder- innkeeper, tavern owner Væver- weaver

Æ
Ædel- noble Ældste (religion)- elder (religious title)

Professionals
Doctors, lawyers, ministers, and other professionals were educated in Danish schools and universities. Their organizations published biographical lists of members and sometimes histories of their groups.

There are published works for many Danish professions and occupations. Examples are:


 * Carøe, Kristian.Den Danske Lægestand 1479-1900 (Danish doctors 1479-1900); København og Kristiania: Gyldendalske Boghandel og Nordisk Forlag, 1904-1922 (FHL book Scand 948.9 D3ca, film 1,440,235.)


 * Dolleris, Andreas. Danmarks Boghandlere 1837 to 1892 (Danish booksellers 1837-1892); Odense: Det Milo'ske Bogtrykkeri, 1912 (FHL book Scand 948.9 D3d; film 897,409).
 * Skippers and officers

See also the "Biography" section.

Trade Guild Records
In Danish society occupations were a measure of social status. Some trades were viewed as more prestigious than others. Many trades, including butchers, tanners, shoemakers, and tailors, were organized into guilds. The purpose of a guild was to provide training of apprentices and otherwise regulate the practice of the trade in the area. Not all trade persons belonged to guilds, and some could have received their training outside the guild.

Guilds were usually established in each city. The records of these guilds contain lists of members, information on journeymen practicing in the town, marriages of journeymen, and advancements from the rank of apprentice to journeyman and from journeyman to mastercraftsman. In addition, contracts between masters and parents of apprentices may be included.

These records are usually found in the city archives or in the possession of the modern guilds, provincial archives, and museums.

Research use: Names of parents and sometimes other family relationships are given, sometimes also children. Useful linkage source.

Record type: Records of merchants, craftsmen, tradesmen, skilled laborers, and persons bound by indenture to serve others for a prescribed period to learn an art or trade.

Time period: 1500 to 1850.

Contents: Names of skilled laborers, craftsmen, and apprentices; age or date of birth; place of origin and residence; family relationships; skills; etc.

Location: City and provincial archives, local museums.

Percentage in Family History Library: about 95%.

Population coverage: 5 to 10%.

The Family History Library has collected some records of some Danish guilds, especially for the larger cities. They are listed in the catalog under—

DENMARK - OCCUPATIONS

DENMARK- [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS

DENMARK - [COUNTY] - [CITY]- OCCUPATIONS

Types of Records
Lavsprotokoller. These include business items, accounts, may not contain much genealogical information.

Ind-og Udskrivningsbøger. These are copies of contractual agreements.

Medlemsprotokoller. These are lists of guild members.

Tidepengebøger. These are payment of guild member dues. These records are helpful in locating members residences.

Many tradesmen, both Danish and foreign-born, often moved around.

Books about guilds and occupations in Denmark may describe your ancestor's life and trade. Although the Family History Library has few books on guilds, those that are available can be very helpful. For a bibliography of the most important printed works on professions, occupations, and so forth, see the following book:

Fabritius, Albert, and Harald Hatt. Handbog i Slægtsforskning (Handbook in Genealogy). København: J. H. Schultz Forlag, 1963. (FHL book 948.9 D27fh, pages 102-131, 209-210, 223-226.)

Books and microfilms about guilds and occupations, as well as the actual guild records are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under—

DENMARK - OCCUPATIONS

DENMARK, [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS

DENMARK, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - OCCUPATIONS

Citizenship Records
In Denmark, a person did not become a citizen by virtue of birth. Citizenship was a valuable privilege that included:


 * Rights to engage in business in a city.
 * Protections under the law.
 * Permission to reside in a city without being expelled.

Citizenship was extended by individual cities to some of their inhabitants, primarily those who wanted to engage in business, and did not pertain to the country as a whole.

Those who received the rights to citizenship were recorded in citizenship books [Borgerskabpprotokoller].

Borgerskabprotokoller. The earliest citizenship books in Denmark date from medieval times, but most are from later centuries. They include information such as names, ages, social and economic status, occupation and training, and sometimes birthplaces and relationships. Until the twentieth century, only males of the middle or upper classes, mostly merchants and tradesmen, were granted citizenship.

Genealogical use of citizenship books is usually limited to the time period before church records. They are also used to help trace migrations not recorded in other records. The Family History Library has obtained copies of some Danish citizenship books. They are listed in the catalog under, for example:

DENMARK, [COUNTY], [CITY] - COURT RECORDS

The original citizenship books are generally kept by the city and may be found in city archives or city halls.