List of Occupation Abbreviations
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Occupations were often written in abbreviated form in historic documents. This was done to save space and money. For example, old city directories would often abbreviate occupations of residents. This allowed more names to be written on each page. Some census records also abbreviate occupations due to the lack of space on census forms.
Some abbreviations of occupations are self evident. Others are not. In this handy reference list, we provide abbreviations for several hundred occupations. Simply match up the abbreviation found in an old document with the list below.
A couple of things to note:
• The most common way to abbreviate an occupation was to remove the vowels from the word. For example slsmn = salesman.
• For compound occupations, look up each part. For example:
trav slsmn = travelling saleman.
• For a list of first name abbreviations, see the article First Name Abbreviations.
• For a list of street abbreviations found in city directories, see the article City Directory Abbreviations.
| acct | accountant |
| act serv | active service (in the military) |
| adj | adjuster |
| adv | advertising |
| ag | agriculture |
| agcy | agency |
| agt | agent |
| ap, app | apprentice |
| appr | appraiser, apprentice |
| arch, archt | architect |
| asmblr | assembler |
| assce | assurance |
| asst | assistant |
| atdt, attdt, attndt | attendant |
| atty | attorney |
| auctnr | auctioneer |
| aud | auditor |
| barr | barrister |
| bgemn | baggageman |
| bkbndr | book binder |
| bkpr | bookkeeper |
| bkr | baker |
| bldr | builder |
| blksmth | blacksmith |
| blrmkr | boilermaker |
| booksel, booksl | bookseller |
| bootma | boot maker |
| btlr | bottler |
| brbr | barber |
| brklyr | bricklayer |
| brkmn | brakeman |
| bt | bottle |
| brkr | broker |
| btchr | butcher |
| cbtmkr, cabt mkr | cabinet maker |
| capt | captain |
| caretkr | caretaker |
| carp, carpntr | carpenter |
| cash, cashr | cashier |
| chauf | chauffeur |
| chem | chemist |
| cheml | chemical |
| chf | chef |
| chkr | checker |
| civ ser | civil servant |
| clk | clerk |
| clnr | cleaner |
| coachm | coachman |
| coll, collr | collector |
| com | commission, commercial |
| comp | compositor |
| compt | comptometer |
| cond | conductor |
| conf, confr | confectioner |
| cons | consulting |
| contr | contractor |
| cors, corres | correspondent |
| ctr, cutt | cutter |
| dea | dealer |
| dec, decrtr | decorator |
| del | delivery |
| delctan | delicatessen |
| dep, depy | deputy |
| dicta | dictaphone |
| dir | director |
| disp | dispenser |
| dispr | dispatcher |
| dlr | dealer |
| dr, drs | daughter(s) |
| dmnstr | demonstrator |
| drftsmn | draftsman |
| drsmkr | dress maker |
| drug | druggist |
| drvr | driver |
| drwrs | drawers |
| &c | etcetera |
| elec, electn | electrician |
| electro | electrotyper |
| elev, elev opr | elevator operator |
| elevmn | elevator man |
| embr | embroider |
| emp | employee |
| eng | engineer |
| engr, engrav | engraver |
| esq | esquire |
| exam | examiner |
| exec | executive |
| exp, expmn | expressman |
