What did they do?
Finding out what your ancestors did for work can really bring them to life, giving you a proper glimpse into who they were and what their daily lives were like. Knowing their job can tell you where they worked, who they worked with, how much they might have earned, and whether they climbed the career ladder. It's a key part of family history research because your ancestor's work hugely influenced their social standing, where they lived, what kind of education their kids got, and who their friends were.
So, where do you start?
Well, UK census records and the 1939 Register are brilliant starting points. They list everyone at an address and usually include their job. UK census records go all the way back to 1841 and were taken every ten years, so you can sometimes track how someone's job changed over time. Parish records, especially after 1812, often mention occupations in baptism and marriage records. Trade directories are like old-fashioned phone books, listing people and their trades, and sometimes even have adverts with interesting details. And for Scotland, the Scottish Post Office Directories are online at the National Library of Scotland.
Vital records
Birth, marriage, and death certificates also record jobs, especially the father's or husband's, and sometimes the mother's or bride's. If you're lucky, a will might give you details about an ancestor's business, property, and what they owned. Don't forget obituaries in newspapers, like those in the British Newspaper Archives, as they can also give you clues about what your ancestor did for a living.
Keep digging
Once you know their job title, it's worth digging deeper. There are often specific records that can tell you more about their working life, like where they worked, how long they were there, and even what they were paid. For example, the Wellcome Library has medical records for doctors and nurses, and engineering records from the 19th century document the Industrial Revolution. Different areas had different main industries; for instance, after 1851 in Scotland, shipbuilding and coal mining were big in Glasgow. Old street maps, like those on the National Library of Scotland Maps website, can help you figure out where they probably worked.
Get help
There are loads of resources to help with this research. The National Archives has occupational records, including the Labour Gazette from 1893 with wage rates. They also have research guides for companies, businesses, and trades. The Society of Genealogists has collections about different professions. County Record Offices hold records relevant to their area. Specialised libraries and archives, like the Modern Records Centre and the Working Class Movement Library, also have valuable information.
Go online
Online databases like Ancestry and Findmypast have searchable occupational records, such as UK Post Office Appointment Books and UK Railway Employment Records. And websites like GENUKI link to various occupational sources and old job dictionaries. Just remember that how accurate the job information is depends on who gave it in the first place!
By using all these different sources, you can really piece together the working lives of your ancestors and get a much better picture of their world.