London Occupations

Livery Companies
108 livery companies have operated in London. Wikipedia maintains a list of The City Livery Companies, along with links to company websites.


 * The Livery Companies Database is a helpful resource that supplies contact details for each active company.

Histories
Histories have been written on many London livery companies. The British Library has compiled a detailed list. Most of those published before 1923 are available for free online at Hathi Trust, Google Books, or Internet Archive.

Medieval Londoners identifies several histories, as well as published records, available online.

Guildhall Library
The original records of most London livery companies are deposited at the Guildhall Library. A guide to their collection is available online:


 * Livery Company Membership Guide, Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section

Inns of Court
Lawyers from all over England and Wales were trained at London's four inns of court.

For a useful guide, see:


 * Brooks, Brian G.C. and Mark D. Herber. My Ancestor was a Lawyer. London: Society of Genealogists, c2006..

Notes on English Medieval Genealogy maintains a useful list of online Inns of Court records.

Gray's Inn

 * Admissions 1521-1889

See also Staple Inn.

Inner Temple

 * Admissions Database 1547-1940

Lincoln's Inn

 * Admissions 1420-1799

See also Thavie's Inn.

Middle Temple

 * Admissions Database 1501-1944


 * Records 1501-1603

Websites

 * Livery Company records and furthering your ancestry virtual lesson
 * City Freedom Archives (London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) Information Leaflet)
 * Livery Company Records and Furthering Your Ancestry (free online lesson)
 * Livery Company Membership Guide, Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section
 * The Membership Records of the Merchant Taylors Company (LMA Information Leaflet 17)
 * Records of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen (LMA Information Leaflet 18)
 * Searching for Members or Those Apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies (LMA Information Leaflet 16)
 * Sources for Tracing Apothecaries, Surgeons, Physicians and Other Medical Practitioners (LMA Information Leaflet 37)