List Of Medieval European Professions

Basic Information

The following lists are of occupations appropriate to the Medieval and early Renaissance eras, particularly in Europe.

It's worth noting that during the Middle Ages, having a job was not strictly necessary. Yes, you needed some sort of income, but that didn't always mean you had to work at a single profession. Nobility could often get away with just owning enough land to provide for their households - and leave the actual working of the land to their servants. Yeoman might have a bit of land they work - not to get rich, but just to provide for the daily needs of themselves and their family. Commoners might have a few jobs each, and switch between them by season or as demand comes up - see Grain-based Local Currency for a discussion of how this works. The traveling life is also quite common in the era, with people going where the jobs are this month, and living lightly as a result.

On the other hand, some kingdoms in the era have established a system of Monopoly by Royal Decree which may make certain professions illegal unless you happen to be working for/with a particular nobleman who owns the contract on that industry. Between that and Trade Guilds (and the various laws stemming from them), it's always a good idea to a make a few inquiries before you set up shop in a new town.

Note: Most of the links below are currently dead. Links in Red do not have pages yet, and clicking on them will make a new empty page. Links in Blue go to an actual existing page, most of which have useful material for gaming.

Category	Sub-Category	Specific Occupations	See Also
Agriculture	farmer	ackerman, cowherd, crofter, dairymaid, dung carter, farmer, Freibauer, gardener, goatherd, hawker, hayward, Herder, horse trainer, ostler, Peasant, plowman, reaper, Serf, sheepshearer, shepherd, swineherd, thresher, tillerman, Vintner, Woodcutter, woolcomber, woolman, Yeoman	merchant and craftsman (below)
Agriculture	Hunter	climmer, falconer, fewterer, forester, fowler, gamekeeper, hawker, hunter, huntsman, master of hounds, molecatcher, parker, rat catcher, sperviter, trapper	merchant and craftsman (below)
Aquaculture	fisherman	fisherman, leech-collector, oyster raker, oysterer, seaweed harvester	merchant (below)
Artist	Visual Art	Artist, artisan, artist's model, fresco painter, glasspainter, illuminator, limner, painter, sculptor	craftsman (below)
Artist	Literary Art	Artist, composer, illuminator, limner, playwright, poet, writer	entertainer (below)
Craftsman	Most common types in Paris in 1292, in order from most to least common	shoemaker, furrier, tailor, jeweler, pastrycook, mason, carpenter, weaver, chandler, cooper, baker, scabbard maker, hatmaker, saddler, chicken butcher, purse maker, meat butcher, buckle maker, blacksmith, roofer, locksmith, ropemaker, tanner, rugmaker, harness maker, bleacher, cutler, glover	Source: Magic Jar [1]
Craftsman	Leatherworker	bottelier, cobbler, cordwainer, currier, girdler, lorimer, malemaker, saddler, scabbard maker, shoemaker, tanner, thonger, vaginarius,
Craftsman	Armorer or Weaponsmith	armorsmith, arrowsmith, blacksmith, bladesmith, bowyer, fletcher, grinder (occupation), gunsmith, gunstocker, knifesmith, lancier, linen-armorer, mailmaker, merchant taylor, poleturner, scythesmith, stringer, swordsmith, vaginarius, weaponsmith
Craftsman	Smith	Blacksmith, blacksmith's striker, brightsmith, bronzefounder, buckle maker, coppersmith, farrier, foundryman, goldbeater, knifesmith, locksmith, redsmith, scythesmith, silversmith, smelter, smith, swordsmith, spooner, spurrer, tinker, tinsmith, Weaponsmith
Craftsman	Miscellaneous	accoutrement maker, alabasterer, architect, arkwright, Artisan, Baker, balancemaker, basketmaker, beekeeper, beerbrewer, bellfounder, bellmaker, besom maker, billier, bleacher, blockcutter, bodger, bog iron hunter, bonecarver, bookbinder, bookprinter, brazier (occupation), brewer, bricker, bricklayer, broderer, broom-dasher, brushbinder, builder, Butcher, buttonmaker, cabinetmaker, Calligrapher, campaner, canvasser, carder, cardmaker, Carpenter, Cartographer, cartwright, chainmaker, chandler, charcoalburner, cheesemaker, chicken butcher, clockmaker, clothier, coiner, combmaker, compasssmith, confectioner, Cooper, corsetier, cutler, delver, diamantaire, disher, draper, drycooper, drywaller, dyer, embroiderer, engraver, fabricshearer, feltmaker, fewtrer, fuller, furniture maker, furrier, gemcutter, gilder, glassblower, glazier, glover, gravedigger, grinder (occupation), Guild Master, hacker, harness maker, hatmaker, hatter, horner, ivorist, Jeweler, joiner, knacker, knapper, lacemaker, lampwright, lanternmaker, lapidary, latoner, leadworker, limeburner, limner, linen-armorer, linener, linenspinner, lutemaker, luthier, mailer, mapmaker, marler, marleywoman, Mason, master builder, meat butcher, Miller, milliner, miner, miniaturist, minter, mintmaster, moneyer, mirrorer, nailmaker, nedeller, netmaker, oilmaker, papermaker, parchmenter, pasteler, pattenmaker, Perfumer, pewterer, physician, pinmaker, plasterer, plattner, plumber, pointer, pot mender, potter, printer, purser, purse maker, quarryman, quilter, rectifier, reedmaker, roofer, roper, ropemaker, rugmaker, rugweaver, sailmaker, saltboiler, salter, sawyer, seamstress, shingler, shipwright, siever, silkmaid, silk-dresser, silk-maker, silk-mercer, silk-dyer, silk-carder, Spinner/spinster, stonecarver, stonecutter, Stonemason, tailor, tallowchandler, tapestrymaker, tapicer, tasseler, tenter, thacker, threadmaker, tile-burner, tile-theeker, tile maker, treen maker, turner, typefounder, upholder, vintner, waxchandler, Weaver, webber, wheeler, wheelwright, wiredrawer, woodcarver, woodcutter, woodturner	The ranks of a Guild: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master Craftsman, Guild Syndic - and any of these professions may be assisted by various grades of unguilded labourer.
Criminal	Thief	Bandit, Boothaler, Burglar, Charlatan, Conman, Cutpurse, Diver (criminal), Fence (criminal), Footpad, Pickpocket, Poacher, Quack, Shill, Silk-snatcher, Thimblerigger
Criminal	Prostitute	Bawd, Camp Follower, Courtesan, Prostitute, Stewsman,
Entertainer	Musician	Bard, fiddler, harper, jongleur, lutenist, Meistersinger, minnesinger, Minstrel, Musician, nakerer, piper, Singer,
Entertainer		Actor, Bard, barker, bear-ward, Dancer, fool, Jester, Juggler, mummer, player (actor), playwright, Poet, Skald, Storyteller, Trobairitz, Troubadour, tumbler	Commedia dell'arte
Government		Ale-Conner, Bailiff, Captain of the Guard, Castellan, Catchpole, Chamberlain, Chancellor, Chancery Clerk, Cofferer, Coin-Stamper, Constable, Diplomat, Emperor, Exchequer, Hayward, Herald, Jailer, Judge, Keeper of the Privy Seal, Keeper of the Rolls, Keeper of the Wardrobe, King, Knight, Lady, Landed Gentry, landlord, Liner, Lord High Steward, marshal, Master of the Revels, Pinder, Noble, Nobleman, Prince, Pursuivant, Reeve, Seneschal, Sheriff, Steward, Summoner (law), Tax Collector, Toll Keeper, Town Crier, Treasurer, Watchman, Woodward	List of Noble Titles, Standard Royal Court
Government	standard Noble Ranks, in order from most to least powerful:	Emperor/Empress, King/Queen, Archduke/Archduchess, Prince/Princess, Marquess, Count/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess, Baron/Baroness, Baronet/Baronetess, Knight/Dame, Esquire	List of Noble Titles, Standard Royal Court
Medicine		alchemist, apothecary, barber-chirurgeon, chirurgeon, cunning man, doctor, leech, leech-collector, midwife, nurse, pissprophet, sawbones, surgeon, toad doctor, wise woman	the healer, humorism, traditional medicine
Merchant		acater, alewife, apothecary, banker, beer seller, bog iron hunter, boothman, chapman, collier, colporteur, costermonger, drover, eggler, fishmonger, fruiterer, fruitier, fueller, glass seller, greengrocer, grocer, Guild Master, harberdasher, hay merchant, hetheleder, innkeeper, ironmonger, lighterman, linen-draper, mercer, milkmaid, oil merchant, old-clothes dealer, oynter, peddler, pie seller, plumer, poulter, ragpicker, shrimper, skinner, spice merchant, spicer, stationer, taverner, thresher, unguentary, waferer, waterseller, weirkeeper, wine seller, wood seller, woodmonger, wool stapler	Intrepid Merchant, Shill
Military	Soldier	Arbalestier, Archer, Argolet, Bodyguard, Bowman, Captain, Captain of the Guard, Crossbowman, Drummer, Guardsman, Halberdier, Knifeman, Knight, Mercenary, Militia, Pikeman, Scout, Sergeant, Sergeant-at-arms, Spearman, Spy, Squire, Viking, Watchman
Military	Siege Engineer	Cannoneer, Pioneer (siege), Sapper, Siege Engineer
Military	Officer	Admiral, Captain, Captain of the Guard, Castellan, Marshal
Military	Camp Follower	Accoutrement Maker, Armorer, Bowyer, Camp Cook, Camp Follower, Cartwright, Fletcher, lancier, linen-armorer, knifesmith, Mercenary, merchant taylor, Pioneer (siege), poleturner, Prostitute, Sapper, Scout, Siege Engineer, smith, Spy, vaginarius, Weaponsmith,
Religion		abbess, abbot, almoner, anchorite, archbishop, beadle, beguine, bishop, canon, cantor, cardinal, cathar perfect, chantry priest, chaplain, clark, clerk, colporteur, curate, friar, hermit , metropolitan bishop, monk, nun, ostiary, palmer, pardoner, parish priest, pilgrim, pope, priest, primate (religion), sacristan, sexton, summoner (law), Theologian	Cathedral, Chantry School, Convent, Indulgence, Monastery
Sailor		bargeman, boatman, boatwright, canaller, ferryman, Fisherman, hobbler, lighter man, mariner, navigator, Riverboat Pilot, Sail Maker, sailor, sea captain, ship's captain, shipchandler, ship provisioner, Shipwright, waterman
Scholar		Alchemist, Amanuensis, Apothecary, Astrologer, Barber-Chirurgeon, Bearleader, Calligrapher, Cartographer, Courtesan, Courtier, Cunning-Man, Dean, Herald, Herbalist, Librarian, Mathematician, Poet, Philosopher, Professor, Quack, Scribe, Scrivener, Tempestarii, Theologian, Tutor
Service Industry	Most common types in Paris in 1292, in order from most to least common	maidservant, Barber-Chirurgeon, restaurateur, water carrier, laundress, porter, doctor, bather (profession), copyist	Source: Magic Jar [1]
Service Industry		accomptant, accoucheur, accoucheus, accountant, actuary, Amanuensis, attendent, bagger, bailiff, Barber-Chirurgeon, barrister, Bartender, bath attendent, bather (profession), Bodyguard, bodyservant, butler, Camp Cook, Camp Follower, carman, carter, cartier, carver, castellan, ceiler, cellarer, chamberlain, chimney sweep, chirurgeon, clouter, Coistsell, cook, copyist, Courtesan, Courtier, cowherd, cup-bearer, currier, dairymaid, dapifer, ditcher, diver, doctor, dog trainer, drayman, dresser, dung carter, executioner, famulus, farrier, Ferryman, Fortune Teller, gardner, gentleman's gentleman, gong farmer, groom, Groom of the Stool, Guide, harlot, Herald, horseleech, hurdle maker, Innkeeper, lady's maid, laundress, lawyer, leech, Legerdemainist, link boy, link man, maid, maidservant, Messenger, midwife, miller, napier, nurse, panter, paperer (needlemaking), pavior, pavyler, pissprophet, Poet, porter, potboy, privycleaner, procurator, prostitute, quartermaster, rag and bone man, raker, Rat Catcher, restaurateur, riveter, royal food taster, sawbones, Scribe, scullion, scullery maid, seneschal, Serf, Servant, Sin-Eater, Smelter, solicitor, sperviter, Stablehand, Stabler, stainer, Steward, stillroom, surgeon, tapster, teamster, toad doctor, treadmill worker, trencherman, userer, valet, wagoner, waller, water carrier, wattler, weeper, wetnurse, Whipping Boy
Unemployed		beggar, buffoon, housewife1, pilgrim, transient, squatter, urchin, vagabond

Other Eras

Many RPGs are Fantasy games, and will use some blend of this list with one or more other lists.

• For eras before this, see List of Ancient and Classical Professions, or List of Tribal Professions. Either may be used for particular cultures or species within a setting, as it's quite common to depict some "barbarians" at the edge of The Empire.
• For eras after it, from Reformation to Colonial Era and Golden Age of Piracy, and into the start of the Industrial Revolution, see List of Colonial Era Professions.
• For more cinematic occupations, see List of Fantasy Genre Professions.

Sources

Bibliography

1. Website: Magic Jar - The motherlode. Had I found this site first, I wouldn't have bothered with streaming through RPGs.

2. RPG: 7th Sea RPG - From the lists of Skills and Knacks

3. RPG: Dungeons and Dragons - In particular a few ideas came from looking over the Non-Weapon Proficiency lists from Oriental Adventures, but also the Wilderness Survival Guide and Dungeoneers Survival Guide

4. RPG: Warhammer Fantasy RolePlay - From the lists of Character Roles, in pretty much any edition of the game

5. Website: Wikipedia

6. Non-Fiction Book: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History Again

7. Website: University of Wisconsin History Department

8. Video: Worst Jobs of the Dark Ages

9. marcmny.tripod.com

10. Henry County Alabama - their geneaolgy site has a good list

Game and Story Use

• Knowledge of professions can lend verisimilitude to your game.
• In the Middle Ages, there's no concept of convenience store or department store. Even something more like a general store would be extremely rare - the closest concept would be a common marketplace, or possibly a traveling peddler or tinker who carried his or her wares on their back. In general, when you want to buy something in this era, you go straight to the source / specialist. Middle-men are few.
  • Not that most groups really want to spend a lot of time on the complexities of shopping. So, don't over-do it.
  • But still, a couple little flavorful flourishes can make the game more real. Having a plot involve a particular merchant (preferably one with a narrow or unusual specialty) will really drive home the point that this is a more primitive and less commercial age.
  • Some adventuring possibilities are opened up by these concepts.
    • If a community lacks a particular business, the PCs might make some quick cash as merchants, or as bodyguards to a merchant convoy.
    • In a remote region, certain supplies the PCs have previously taken for granted may be unavailable. This village has no apothecary, so healing potions and curative spells are not available. This community has no fletcher, so your arrows are precious and cannot be restocked. This sort of thing results a short-term boost to the challenge of an adventure, and can result in the PCs having to shake up their tactics a bit.
      • Just be careful you don't overuse this notion (it'll get annoying, and provoke your players to really press the limits of the encumberance rules.
        • In campaigns with a significant level of congruence, this may be entirely appropriate - in real life, a long range expedition needs significant logistical planning and the PCs probably will need supply carriers (such as pack horses or porters) - and appropriate support for those carriers - if they are travelling a long way from civilisation. Either that or they max out their survival skills and rough it, living on whatever they can forage as they do.
      • Also, make sure you don't unfairly burden one PC over the others. If everyone carries a bow, an arrow shortage is interesting. If just one PC uses a bow, and that PC's character concept is the Archer with Improbable Aiming Skills, then the shortage may unfairly disadvantage a single player.
        • Again, this can help push PCs to develop congruent non-combat skills - an archer probably should know how to assemble arrows from parts (or even from raw materials), whilst melee combatants should understand how to perform at least basic maintenance on their weapons and armour.

Footnotes

1. Although considering a housewife "unemployed" in any era is something of a stretch.