Discover the Records That Reveal an Ancestor’s Occupation

Occupational information may appear in far more records than census schedules alone. The sources below highlight where a person’s trade, profession, or economic activity may be directly stated or strongly implied.

Government Records

• Census schedules – Frequently list occupation or trade.
• Non-population schedules – Agricultural, manufacturing, or industrial schedules identify economic role.
• Tax records – Occupational taxes or licensing fees indicate trade.
• Business licenses – Required for regulated professions.
• Professional registrations – Required for doctors, lawyers, teachers.

Court and Legal Records

• Lawsuits – Occupation often stated when identifying parties.
• Criminal proceedings – Trade may appear in indictments.
• Apprenticeship indentures – Identify master and trade.
• Bankruptcy filings – Often describe business activities.
• Estate inventories – Tools of trade imply occupation.

Land and Property Records

• Deeds – Sometimes identify occupation in grantor/grantee description.
• Homestead records – May state farming or settlement activity.
• Mining claims – Indicate mining profession.
• Commercial leases – Suggest shopkeeper or merchant.

Military Records

• Draft registration cards – List occupation and employer.
• Enlistment papers – Often record civilian trade.
• Pension files – May reference inability to resume occupation.
• Officer commissions – Indicate professional standing.

City and Business Directories

• City directories – List occupation alongside name.
• Business directories – Identify tradesmen and merchants.
• Trade publications – Include professional listings.
• Telephone books – May list business advertisements.

Newspapers

• Advertisements – Promote goods or services offered.
• Legal notices – Identify occupation of litigants.
• Obituaries – Often summarize lifetime occupation.
• Social columns – Reference business ownership.
• Labor union reports – Indicate trade membership.

Church and Community Records

• Membership rolls – Sometimes list occupation.
• Vestry or board records – Identify professional status.
• Fraternal organization records – May require specific trades.
• Temperance or reform societies – Often occupation-based membership.

Educational and Institutional Records

• School board minutes – Identify teachers.
• College catalogs – List faculty positions.
• Trade school registers – Indicate vocational training.
• Professional examination records – Required for certification.

Visual and Physical Evidence

• Photographs – Tools or uniforms imply occupation.
• Headstones – Occasionally list trade or rank.
• Probate inventories – Specialized equipment suggests profession.
• Storefront signage in photos – Identifies business ownership.