Introduction
To 21st century readers, many of the occupations listed in 19th century records are archaic and obscure. This is likely to be true for Spanish speakers wanting to investigate English church archives for details of their forebears. To make this glossary of occupations more useful, a two-way translation is provided.
The selection of occupations on this page are for those encountered in the baptismal registers of St John's Church, Buenos Aires between the years 1825 and 1875. Doubtless, it represents the more general picture of Argentina in those days.
Both the Spanish and English languages have evolved very considerably since the beginning of the 19th century. The aim of this translation is to provide the contemporary equivalents in each language, the Spanish terms being those then current in Argentina. It is not very easy for us to get back into the terminology of those days without access to contemporary dictionaries.
Without doubt, there will be errors in working out equivalent translations in the lists below, though they have been checked by several bilingual Anglo-Argentines, with the back up of some dictionary definitions found in Collins Spanish Dictionary (1997) and Ponce de Leon Technological Dictionary (1910).
Any suggested improvements will be welcomed by the Editor.
Introducción
Para los lectores actuales muchas de las ocupaciones que figuran el los registros del siglo XIX resultan arcaicos y difíciles de comprender. Es a´un más probable que esto ocurra cuando lectores hispano-parlantes recurran a los registros parroquiales escritos en inglés para conocer detalles de las vidas de sus antepasados. Aquí presentamos una lista de ocupaciones con sus traducciones al castellano.
Las ocupaciones que se incluyen en esta página son las que se encuentran en los registros de bautismo de la iglesia anglicana San Juan de Buenos Aires entre 1825 y 1875. Sin duda es una muestra representativa de la población argentina en general de esos días.
La terminología corriente en ambos idiomas ha ido cambiando con el tiempo. En esta traducción se ha intentado ofrecer el término equivalente en el castellano de esa época. Esto no ha sido fácil sin acceso a diccionarios contemporáneos.
Sin duda habrá errores en estas listas aunque se ha consultado a varios anglo-argentinos bilingües y a los diccionarios Collins Spanish Dictionary (1997) y Ponce de Leon Technological Dictionary (1910)
Correcciones y sugerencias serán bienvenidas por el Editor.
| Occupation | Oficio |
|---|---|
| accountant | contador |
| apothecary | boticario |
| architect | arquitecto |
| artisan | artesano |
| artist | artista |
| auctioneer | rematador |
| baker | panadero |
| bank manager | gerente de banco |
| barber | peluquero, barbero |
| barrister | escribano |
| blacksmith | herrero |
| boatbuilder | constructor de barcos |
| boatman | botero |
| boilermaker | calderero |
| bookbinder | encuadernador |
| book-keeper, accountant | tenedor de libros |
| bookseller | librero |
| bootmaker | zapatero |
| brazier, brasier | broncista |
| breeder | ganadero |
| bricklayer | albañil |
| broker | corredor |
| brushmaker | fabricante de escobas |
| builder | constructor |
| butler | mayordomo |
| cabinetmaker | ebanista |
| candlemaker | fabricante de velas |
| carpenter | carpintero |
| carrier, carter | carrero, carretero |
| cart driver, cartman | carrero, carretero |
| cartwright | fabricante de carros, carretero |
| carver | tallista, escultor |
| cattle-hand | peón de estancia |
| chain maker | fabricante de cadenas |
| charcoal maker | carbonero |
| chemist | farmacéutico |
| church keeper | casero |
| cigar manufacturer | fabricante de cigarros |
| civil engineer | ingeniero civil |
| classifier of wool | clasificador de lana |
| clergyman | clérigo, sacerdote anglicano |
| clerk | dependiente |
| clerk in holy orders | clérigo, sacerdote anglicano |
| coachmaker | constructor de carruajes |
| coachman | cochero |
| combmaker | fabricante de peines |
| confectioner | pastelero, repostero |
| contractor | contratista |
| cook | cocinero/a |
| cooper | tonelero |
| coppersmith | artesano en cobre |
| corn factor | agente de granos |
| curator, keeper | conservador |
| day-labourer or day worker | jornalero |
| ditcher | sanjeador |
| domestic servant | empleada doméstica, sirvienta |
| draper, haberdasher | tendero |
| drover or cattle dealer | arriero |
| druggist | farmacéutico |
| earthenware merchant | vendedor de cerámica |
| employee | empleado/a |
| engine driver | maquinista |
| engineer | ingeniero |
| engineer | maquinista, mecánico |
| equestrian, horseman, rider | jinete |
| farm foreman | capataz |
| farm manager or steward | mayordomo |
| farm worker | peón de campo |
| farm-hand or ploughman | labrador |
| farrier | herrador |
| foreman | capataz |
| gardener | jardinero |
| gas-fitter | gasista |
| gasworks employee | empleado de fábrica de gas |
| gentleman | caballero |
| goldsmith | orfebre |
| grocer | almacenero |
| guilder | dorador |
| hairdresser | peluquero/a |
| harness maker | talabartero |
| hatter | sombrerero |
| hide broker | corredor de cueros |
| hostler | mozo de cuadra |
| hotel keeper | hostelero |
| house agent | agente inmobiliario |
| house steward | mayordomo |
| housemaid | mucama, sirvienta |
| husbandman | labrador, granjero |
| innkeeper | posadero |
| ironmonger | ferretero |
| jeweller | joyero |
| joiner | carpintero |
| labourer or workman | obrero |
| land owner, proprietor | propietario |
| land surveyor | agrimensor |
| leather merchant | comerciante de cueros |
| lighterman | estribador |
| livery stable keeper | caballerizo |
| lodging house keeper | dueño de pensión |
| machinist | maquinista, mecánico |
| manager | gerente |
| mariner, seaman | marinero |
| mason | albañil |
| master mariner | capitán, patrón de barco |
| mate | segundo de a bordo |
| mechanic | maquinista, mecánico |
| mechanical engineer | ingeniero mecánico |
| medical practitioner (M.D.) | médico |
| merchant | comerciante, mercader |
| merchant's clerk | empleado de comercio |
| mill owner | dueño de fábrica, de molino |
| miller | molinero |
| mulatto/a | mulato/a |
| musician | músico |
| owner of a large farm, rancher | estanciero |
| owner of a salting plant | saladerista |
| painter | pintor |
| photographer | fotógrafo |
| physician | médico |
| pilot | piloto |
| plasterer | yesero |
| ploughman, plowman | labrador |
| plumber | plomero |
| pork butcher | carnicero de cerdo |
| porter | changador |
| potter | alfarero |
| printer | impresor |
| professor of chemistry | profesor de química |
| railway clerk | empleado ferroviario |
| railway employee | empleado ferroviario |
| railway fireman | fogonero |
| railway guard | guardia de ferrocarril |
| receiver of coals | importador de carbón |
| rural worker | empleado rural, trabajador |
| sadler | talabartero |
| salter (dry salter) | salero, salador |
| sawyer, carpenter | aserrador |
| schoolmaster | maestro, profesor |
| sculptor | esculptor/a |
| seaman | marinero |
| secretery | secretario/a |
| servant | sirviente |
| sewing woman, seamstress | costurera, modista |
| sheep farmer | dueño de ganado ovino |
| shepherd, church minister | pastor |
| ship broker | agente marítimo |
| ship master | segundo de a bordo |
| shipbuilder | constructor de buques |
| shipwright, ship carpenter | carpintero de navios |
| shoemaker, shoesmith | zapatero |
| shopkeeper | comerciante, mercader |
| shopman | almacenero, dependiente de almacén |
| silversmith | platero, orfebre |
| smallholder or farmer | agricultor |
| smith | herrero |
| soda water maker | sodero |
| stableman, groom | caballerizo |
| station master | jefe de estación |
| stationer | papelero |
| stevedore | estribador |
| steward | mayordomo |
| stoker | foguero, foguista |
| stone sawyer | aserrador de piedra |
| storekeeper | almacenero |
| storekeeper's assistant | dependiente de almacenero |
| student | estudiante |
| surgeon | cirujano |
| surveyor | agrimensor |
| tailor | sastre |
| tanner | curtidor |
| tavern keeper | posadero |
| teacher | profesor(a) |
| telegrapher | telegrafista |
| tilemaker | fabricante de tejas |
| timber merchant, lumber merchant | maderero |
| tinman, tinsmith, tinplate maker | hojalatero |
| tobacconist | tabaquero |
| turner | tornero |
| undertaker | funebrero |
| unskilled farm worker | peón |
| upholsterer | tapicero |
| verger | sacristán |
| warehouse owner | barraquero |
| watchmaker | relojero |
| well digger | pocero |
| wheelwright | ruedero, carretero |
| Oficio | Occupation |
|---|---|
| agente de granos | corn factor, corn merchant |
| agente inmobiliario | house agent |
| agente marítimo | ship broker |
| agricultor | smallholder or farmer |
| agrimensor | surveyor, land surveyor |
| albañil | mason, bricklayer |
| alfarero | potter |
| almacenero | grocer, storekeeper |
| almacenero | shopman |
| arquitecto | architect |
| arriero | drover or cattle dealer |
| artesano | artisan |
| artesano en cobre | coppersmith |
| artista | artist |
| aserrador | sawyer, carpenter |
| aserrador de piedra | stone sawyer |
| barbero | barber |
| barraquero | warehouse owner |
| botero | boatman |
| boticario | apothecary |
| broncista | brazier, brasier |
| caballerizo | livery stable keeper, stableman, groom |
| caballero | gentleman |
| calderero | boilermaker |
| capataz | farm foreman, foreman |
| capitán, patrón de barco | master mariner |
| carbonero | charcoal maker |
| carnicero de cerdo | pork butcher |
| carpintero | carpenter, joiner |
| carpintero de navios | shipwright, ship carpenter |
| carrero, carretero | carter, carrier, cart driver, cartman |
| carretero | wheelwright |
| casero | church keeper |
| changador | porter |
| cirujano | surgeon |
| clasificador de lana | classifier of wool |
| clérigo, sacerdote anglicano | clergyman, clerk in holy orders |
| cochero | coachman |
| cocinero/a | cook |
| comerciante | merchant or shopkeeper |
| comerciante de cueros | leather merchant |
| conservador | curator, keeper |
| constructor | builder |
| constructor de barcos | boatbuilder |
| constructor de buques | shipbuilder |
| constructor de carruajes | coachmaker |
| contador | accountant |
| contratista | contractor |
| corredor | broker |
| corredor de cueros | hide broker |
| costurera, modista | sewing woman, seamstress |
| curtidor | tanner |
| dependiente | clerk |
| dependiente de almacenero | storekeeper's assistant |
| dorador | guilder |
| dueño de fábrica | works owner |
| dueño de fábrica | factory owner |
| dueño de ganado ovino | sheep farmer |
| dueño de molino | mill owner |
| dueño de pensión | lodging house keeper |
| ebanista | cabinetmaker |
| empleada doméstica | domestic servant |
| empleado de comercio | merchant's clerk |
| empleado de fábrica de gas | gasworks employee |
| empleado ferroviario | railway clerk, railway employee |
| empleado rural, trabajador | rural worker |
| empleado/a | employee |
| encuadernador | bookbinder |
| escribano | barrister |
| esculptor/a | sculptor |
| escultor | carver |
| estanciero | owner of a large farm, rancher |
| estribador | lighterman, stevedore |
| estudiante | student |
| fabricante de cadenas | chain maker |
| fabricante de carros, carretero | cartwright |
| fabricante de cigarros | cigar manufacturer |
| fabricante de escobas | brushmaker |
| fabricante de peines | combmaker |
| fabricante de tejas | tilemaker |
| fabricante de velas | candlemaker |
| farmacéutico | chemist, druggist |
| ferretero | ironmonger |
| fogonero | railway fireman |
| foguero, foguista | stoker |
| fotógrafo | photographer |
| funebrero | undertaker |
| ganadero | breeder |
| gasista | gas-fitter |
| gerente | manager |
| gerente de banco | bank manger |
| granjero | husbandman |
| guardia de ferrocarril | railway guard |
| herrador | farrier |
| herrero | blacksmith, smith |
| hojalatero | tinman, tinsmith, tinplate maker |
| hostelero | hotel keeper |
| importador de carbón | receiver of coals |
| impresor | printer |
| ingeniero | engineer |
| ingeniero civil | civil engineer |
| ingeniero mecánico | mechanical engineer |
| jardinero | gardener |
| jefe de estación | station master |
| jinete | equestrian, horseman, rider |
| jornalero | day-labourer or day worker |
| joyero | jeweller |
| labrador | farm-hand or ploughman |
| labrador, granjero | husbandman |
| librero | bookseller |
| maderero | timber merchant, lumber merchant |
| maestro, profesor | schoolmaster |
| maquinista | engine driver |
| maquinista, mecánico | machinist, mechanic, engineer |
| marinero | mariner, seaman |
| mayordomo | butler, house steward, farm manager |
| médico | medical practitioner, physician |
| mercader | merchant or shopkeeper |
| molinero | miller |
| mozo de cuadra | hostler |
| mucama | housemaid |
| mulato(a) | mulatto(a) |
| músico | musician |
| obrero | labourer or workman |
| orfebre | goldsmith, silversmith |
| panadero | baker |
| papelero | stationer |
| pastelero, repostero | confectioner |
| pastor | shepherd, church minister |
| peluquero, barbero | barber |
| peluquero/a | hairdresser |
| peón | unskilled farm worker |
| peón de campo | farm worker |
| peón de estancia | cattle-hand |
| piloto | pilot |
| pintor | painter |
| platero | silversmith |
| plomero | plumber |
| pocero | well digger |
| posadero | innkeeper, tavern keeper |
| profesor | schoolmaster |
| profesor de química | professor of chemistry |
| profesor(a) | teacher |
| propietario | land owner, proprietor |
| relojero | watchmaker |
| rematador | auctioneer |
| repostero | confectioner |
| ruedero, carretero | wheelwright |
| sacerdote anglicano | clerk in holy orders |
| sacristán | verger |
| saladerista | owner of a salting plant |
| salero, salador | salter (dry salter) |
| sanjeador | ditcher |
| sastre | tailor |
| secretario/a | secretery |
| segundo de a bordo | ship master, mate |
| sirvienta | domestic servant, housemaid |
| sirviente | servant |
| sodero | soda water maker |
| sombrerero | hatter |
| tabaquero | tobacconist |
| talabartero | harness maker, sadler |
| tallista, escultor | carver |
| tapicero | upholsterer |
| telegrafista | telegrapher |
| tendero | draper, haberdasher |
| tenedor de libros | book-keeper, accountant |
| tonelero | cooper |
| tornero | turner |
| trabajador | rural worker, worker |
| vendedor de cerámica | earthenware merchant |
| yesero | plasterer |
| zapatero | bootmaker, shoemaker, shoesmith |