GLOSSARY
Other terms may be found in Genealogical Terms
The meanings of terms defined as '?' are not known to me. If you can
help complete this list please email me at hughlarmstrong@home.com.
arquebusier - gunsmith
aussy - also (now aussi)
autre - another
barques - boat
boulanger - baker
bourgeois - man of independent means or a merchant
bourlier sellier - bourrelier = saddle merchant or maker; sellier = saddle maker
briquetier - brick maker
chaudronnier - boiler maker
chirurgien - surgeon
cloutier - nail maker or nail smith
conversse - a religious person charged with manual labour (now converse)
couroyer - currier
coutellier - knife or cutlery maker (now coutelier)
domestique - servant
drappier - clothier (now drapier)
dud. - short for ‘dudit’ and means ‘said’ - as in ‘daughter of said doctor’
engaigé - hired hand
escuyer - cavalier or squire
faiseur de rets - net maker
ferendinier - a worker in silk & wool used to make clothing
fermier - farmer
feu - late (as deceased)
fille - daughter
fils - son
fourbisseur d'espee - sword grinder
freres gris Donnés - probably a religious order
habittant - resident, usually as head of family (now habitant)
icelluy - contracted or indentured.
imprimeur - printer
jumeaux - twin
jumelles - twins
leur fils - their son
mariez en france - married but wife is in France
Masson - mason
mathellot - sailor / seaman (now matelot)
menuisier - joiner or carpenter
musnier - probably meusnier: miller
nepveu - nephew
neveu - nephew (son neveu = his nephew)
niece - niece
non mariez - not married
orpheuvre - jeweller; gold or silver smith (now orfeuvre)
patissier - confectioner
pensionnaire - boarder
pentionnaire - probably the same as pensionnaire
poigneure - ?
prestre - priest
professe - when a nun takes final vows, she ‘professe’s
religieuse - nun or sister
sabottier - wooden shoe maker
saulnier - salt merchant or salt gatherer
sellier - saddler
serrurier - locksmith
sieur - sire (a title)
soeur - nun or sister
taillandier - maker of cutting tools
tailleur d'habits - tailor; habits means suits (as in men’s 2-pce suits)
thonellier - cooper (now tonnelier)
tisseran - weaver (now tisserand)
ve. - abbreviation: widow / widower
vefve - widow (now veuve)
veuf - widower
vollontaires - volunteer