How many names can you give me that describe what the person/family does or did?

[AndrésC64]

For example, the last name Baker most likely came from a family where the male of the house was a baker, or the family was. So they got the name Baker.

[DryGermanGuy]

Müller, Maier, Schmidt. Not coincidentally the three most common German names.

[menina]

Not many, I can only think of Carpenter and Smith.

[petitedollbabee]

Miller, carpenter, cooper, carter, potter.

[AndrésC64]

Oh, carter. That's a good one! I had never thought of that.

[goaded]

Cox? C:

[AndrésC64]

Cocksmith? 😂

[goaded]

Come to think of it, it might be from coxswain.

"The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cock, referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boat, and swain, an Old English term derived from the Old Norse sveinn meaning boy or servant."

[AndrésC64]

Cool. I love looking up etymology of words.

[Anonymous]

Coppersmiith, blacksmith

[WhitneySnow]

Smith

[XXblack88]

Tailor