Polish Occupation Definitions - English Translations
Compiled by: Lauren B. Eisenberg Davis
These are occupations typically found in 19th-century
Polish vital records.
Polish | English Rough Translation |
akuszerka | midwife |
aptekarz | dispensing chemist, pharmacist |
arendarz, arędarz | lease-holder, innkeeper |
artysta | artist |
bakalarz | teacher |
bankier | banker |
belek | bela = log, belka = beam |
belfer | assistant melamed in cheder |
blacharz | plumber, tinker, tinsmith |
browarnik | brewer (browar = brewery) |
brukarz | paver |
bufetowy | bartender |
burmistrz | mayor |
ceglarz | brickmaker |
chazan | cantor |
ciesla | carpenter |
cyrulik | barber-surgeon |
czapnik | cap-maker |
czarownik | medicine man, magician |
czeladnik | journeyman |
czlowiek studiujacy | student, scholar |
doktor | doctor |
domu czynszowego | building for rent |
dozorca boznicny | synagogue caretaker |
drobny kupiec | chandler |
drukarz | printer |
duchowny | clergyman |
dziedzic | landlord, estate owner |
dzierżwca | lease-holder, tenant |
ekonom, ekonomia | bailiff, land-steward |
farbarz | dyer |
fabrykant | manufacturer |
faktor | broker, agent |
felczer | assistant surgeon |
fryzjer | barber |
furman | cart-driver |
galanternik | outfitter, seller of fancy goods |
garbarz | tanner |
garncarz | potter |
gorzelnik | alcohol distiller |
gospodarz | farm-owner |
górnik | miner |
grabarz | grave-digger |
handlarz | peddler |
handlarz bydla | cattle peddler |
handlarz chmielu | hops peddler |
handlarz drzewa | wood peddler |
handlarz sola | salt merchant |
handlarz zboza | corn/grain peddler |
introligator | bookbinder |
jalmuznik | alms giver |
kahalny | senior kahal (Jewish community council) member |
kamieniarz | stone cutter |
kantor | cantor |
kapelusznik | hatter |
karabelnik | hawker, peddler |
karczmarz | innkeeper |
kominiarz | chimney-sweep |
komornik | cottager |
kotlarz | coppersmith, brazier |
kowal | blacksmith |
kramarz | stall-keeper |
krawiec | tailor |
krawiec damski | dressmaker |
krawcowa | dressmaker |
kreslarz | draftsman |
krochmalnik | starch-maker or merchant |
kucharz | cook |
kupiec | merchant |
kuśnierz | furrier |
laznik | bath attendant |
lekarz | physician |
lesnik | forester |
listonosz | postman |
maczarz | flour miller |
majster | master craftsman |
malarz | painter, artist |
mleczarz | dairyman |
młynarz | miller |
mosiężnik | brass worker, brazier |
mularz, murarz | mason |
muzykant | musician |
mydlarz | soap-maker |
najemnik | hired hand |
nauczyciel | teacher, schoolmaster |
oberzysta | tavern keeper |
ogrodnik | farmer, gardener |
pachciarz | tenant gardner |
palacz | stoker/fireman or distiller |
parobek | farmhand |
piekarz | baker |
pisarz | author, writer |
piwowar | brewer |
podkahalny | lesser kahal member |
podrabin | assistant rabbi |
podszkolnik | assistant shammes |
poeta | poet |
pogrzebacz | grave-digger |
policjant | policeman |
poslugacz | servant, porter |
producent | manufacturer |
przekupien | peddler, dealer, huckster |
przemysl | industry |
przewoznik | ferryman, carrier, boatman |
przybior | outfit, equipment, clothing |
rabin | rabbi |
radzic, doradca | advisor |
rewizor | controller |
robotnik | worker |
robotnik rolny | farmhand |
rolnik | farmer |
rozny | diverse |
rybak | fisherman |
rysownik | draftsman |
rzemieslnik | artisan |
rzezak | mohel |
rzezbiarz | sculptor |
rzeznik | butcher, shochet |
sklepikarz | shop keeper |
skornik | tanner |
slodownik | maltster |
sluzacy | servant |
smolarz | pitch-burner |
solny | salt |
stelmach | cart/wheel maker |
stolarz | carpenter |
straznik, stroz | doorkeeper, watchman, guardian |
strycharz | brick-maker |
stypendysta | scholar |
sukiennik | clothier, draper |
szewc | shoemaker |
szklarz | glazier |
szkolnik | synagogue sexton, shammes,
minor kahal (Jewish community council) official |
szmuklarz | haberdasher, lace maker |
szpektor | teacher's assistant |
szpitalnik | hospital worker |
szpekulant | money-lender |
szwaczka | seamstress |
szynkarz | innkeeper |
slusarz | locksmith |
tapicer | upholsterer |
targownik | peddler |
terminator | apprentice |
tkacz | weaver |
tokarz | turner (lathe) |
towar | goods, merchandise |
uczen | pupil |
uczony | educated person, scholar |
urzednik | clerk |
waciarz | quilt maker |
wapniarz | lime burner |
wiernik | trustee |
winnik | wine maker |
wlasciciel | proprietor, owner |
wloscianin | peasant |
wyrobnica | day-laborer, charwoman |
wyrobnik | day-laborer |
wyszynkarz | innkeeper |
wytwórca | manufacturer |
zebrak | beggar |
zegarmistrz | watchmaker |
zlotnik | goldsmith |
znachor | medicine man |
zniwiarz | reaper |
zolnierz | soldier |
Compiled from a variety of sources, with help from Warren Blatt and
Michael Tobias.
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