London Occupations

England London  Occupations

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 also a helpful resource.

Histories have been written on many London livery companies. The British Library has compiled a detailed list.

Livery Company Records
A detailed list of surviving records from each company was published in 1985. The list is available online.

Apprenticeship records are one of the most valuable genealocial sources created by London livery companies. They often name the following information about an apprentice's father: name, residence, and occupation. Cliff Webb has abstracted the records of many companies:


 * London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850, courtesy: British Origins ($); also available in book form (48 vols.):.

Records from the following companies are included: apothecaries, armourers and brasiers, basketmakers, blacksmiths, bowyers, brewers, broderers, brown bakers, butchers, carmen, coachmakers and coach harness makers, combmakers, cooks, curriers, cutlers, distillers, dyers, fan makers, farriers, feltmakers, fishmongers, fletchers, founders, framework knitters, fruiterers, gardeners, glass-sellers, glaziers, glovers, gold and silver wyre drawers, grocers, gunmakers, horners, innholders, ironmongers, longbowstring makers, loriners, makers of playing cards, masons, musicians, needlemakers, painter-stainers, pattenmakers, paviors, pewterers, pinmakers, plaisterers, plumbers, poulters, saddlers, spectaclemakers, tallow chandlers, tinplate workers, tobacco pipe makers and tobacco blenders, turners, tylers and bricklayers, upholders, vintners, waxchandlers, and woolmen.

In 1696, oaths from livery company members were recorded. This source acts as a census substitute:


 * Association Oath Rolls for City of London Livery Companies, 1696, courtesy: British Origins ($)