What do these names have in common?

They are both occupations.  Way back in the medieval period in England, people didn’t have “family” names, since there were few enough people around.  They were often known by what they did in the community.  John, the miller, who owned the flour mill by the river and accepted everyone’s grain to grind into flour.  If there were ten people named John in the village, they were distinguished by their occupations so people didn’t get them mixed up.  So you might have John the miller, and John the butcher.  Eventually, when there were enough people around, those occupations became their last names, and their children had two names, a first name and a last name.

For a while now, I have, just for fun, been keeping a list of last names that are occupations.  I’d love it if my followers could add names that I’ve missed.   Here is what I have so far:

Smith (as in blacksmith), or Schmidt the German variation

Miller

Butcher

Baker

Chandler

Glover

Barker

Fletcher (makes arrows)

Driver

Shepherd (or Shepard)

Cooper (makes barrels)

Goldschmidt (goldsmith)

Farmer

Mercer (makes thread)

Fuller (processes cloth)

Pope

King

Fisher

Marshall, or Marshal

Mason (the Masonic order was made up of the specialized stonemasons who built early cathedrals)

Draper

Proctor

Carter

Cook

Collier (miner)

Miner

Porter

Glaser (makes windows)

Tanner

Palmer

Cantor

Singer

Provost

Taylor, or Tailor

Knight

Framer

Warden

Chancellor

Sailor, or Saylor

Weaver

Squire

Forrester

Carver

Steward, or Stewart

Planter

Harvester

Page

Carpenter

Hunter

Clark, or Clerk

Abbott

Potter

Archer

Buyer

Postman

Chamberlain

Falconer

Reeve

Roper

Shoemaker

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/names/