Polish Occupation Definitions — English Translations
Reference copy of the JewishGen InfoFile at jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/PolishOccs.htm
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.