Lovelock and Loveluck Occupations in
England and Wales
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Prior to the 19th Century the majority of male
Lovelocks and Lovelucks in England and Wales would probably have been engaged in
agriculture – usually, as the 19th Century Census Returns would have it, as Agricultural
Labourers. There were, of course, many different occupations within that category, but
most Census Enumerators opted for the convenient shorthand of 'Ag Lab’ when preparing their
documentation. Some data recorded on our 'Census and 1939 Register' page gives a clear
indication of how early 19th Century life was for Lovelocks in the southern, agricultural
counties: in 1821 81.5% of the 244 families in the Wiltshire village of Burbage were
employed in agriculture. Only 13.5% of families were employed in the trades, and the
remaining 5%, presumably mostly the landed gentry, had no employment at all. |
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One occupation accorded much respect from medieval times onwards is that of Stonemason. We know of at least 4 Lovelocks who took up that profession. From those very early days masons used hand grips, signs and words to identify themselves as qualified tradesmen, and eventually out of that practice Freemasonry was established. It is of course not necessary to be a Stonemason to become a Freemason, and a number of Lovelocks and Lovelucks, with a variety of occupations, have over the years been admitted to one Lodge or another. Details of those that we know of are provided here.
Lovelock and Loveluck wives recorded in the various Census Returns, especially of the 19th Century, very seldom appear to have been engaged in anything but the running of home and family, but the majority of unmarried Lovelock and Loveluck girls and women would have been employed as Domestic Servants. Again there were several types of servant, but most Enumerators once more opted for a shorthand reference, although more details were often provided as the Century advanced.
The earliest occupation mentioned on this Web Site is Forester, the calling of one William Loveleke who was recorded as such in 1464 working for John Seymour in Savernake Forest in Wiltshire. It was a significant appointment, and William would have been responsible for enforcing the extensive Forestry Laws throughout John’s demesne.
Moving on to the 19th Century Lovelocks and Lovelucks engaged in a multitude of occupations, many of them associated with town and city as opposed to hamlet and village life. There were still, to be sure, many ‘Ag Labs’ and servants, but even as early as 1841 we find them also recorded in Census Returns in the following occupations:
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Beer Seller* |
Coal Merchant |
Lace Cleaner |
Sailor Sawyer Schoolmistress*** Shopkeeper Soldier Spinner Steward Tanner Upholsterer Weaver Whitesmith Woollen Weaver |
** See our page dedicated to the Boot and Shoe Trade
*** See our page dedicated to Education and the Teaching profession.
As the 19th Century moved on even more occupations appeared, including these in the 1851 Census Returns:
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Bank Clerk Bell Hanger Boot Closer* Bread Boy Brick Maker Cab Proprietor Coachman Coalwhipper Cotton Spinner Cotton Weaver Curate** Draper |
Drug Miller Farm Bailiff Ferry Man Flax Dresser French Polisher Fur Cutter Groom Housekeeper Housemaid Innkeeper*** Insurance Clerk Ironer |
Locksmith Mason Matting Weaver Metallic Wick Twister Needlewoman Nursery Labourer Pantry Man Perfume Box Maker Plasterer Plough Boy Plumber Pot Hawker |
Rail Labourer**** Seamstress Trousers Maker Twine Spinner Under Carter Undertaker Victualler** Watch Maker Weaver Power Loom Wharfinger Wine Cooper Woodman |
** For more information on a number of Lovelocks who pursued religious careers see the article in the Twelfth Edition of 'Lovelock Lines'.
*** See our page dedicated to the Licensed Trade
**** See our page dedicated to the Lovelocks who worked on the Railways
And these Occupations appeared in the 1861 Census Returns:
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Baitler Barge Captain Brewer's Drayman Caulker Coal Miner Confectioner Cotton Mixer Debt Collector Dock Labourer Engineer Fodder Fogger |
French Polisher Gas Engineer Gas Fitter's Foreman Gentleman's Servant Glass Silverer Glazier Heald Knitter Headdress Maker Ironmonger Japanner Lady's Maid Lamp Maker |
Lime Burner Oil and Colourman Ostler Page Parlourmaid Pianoforte Maker Platelayer Police Constable* Postmaster Quarryman Rag Dealer Royal Marine |
School Slate Maker Shepherd Shirt Maker Solicitor's Clerk Straw Bonnet Maker Tassel Maker Thatcher Traveller Waitress Well Sinker Wine Cellarman Works Watchman |
* See our page on Lovelocks, Lovelucks and Law Enforcement
Most of the occupations listed above are single instances of employment, although there were two Lovelock sisters recorded as Metallic Wick Twisters! What is most notable is that there are hardly any mentions of the professions - no lawyer, no doctor, no dentist for example - although two Lovelocks did claim in 1861 to be engineers. Whether they were sufficiently professionally qualified by the standards of the time to be able to make such a claim we can not tell. The Lovelock lady recorded as a nurse in 1841 would probably have had no recognizable training and was simply describing what she did. We do, of course, know of one Lovelock who was a qualified Medical Practitioner, although he became famous for his athletic prowess rather than his medical skills, and that was the New Zealander Jack Lovelock. One Lovelock and Loveluck profession that seems never to have been recorded in any Census is that of midwife. There were, however, a small number of practitioners that we know of who are detailed here.
Perusal of the later Census Returns will identify yet more occupations, but the 1911 collection may be of particular interest because for the first time people were able to record their occupations for themselves, although there are plenty of examples of Enumerators making 'corrections' so that the entries complied with a pre-prepared list with which the Enumerators had been equipped. The 1911 collection thus includes:
| Arc Lamp Fitter Artificial Flower Maker Asylum Attendant Bank Clerk Billiard Table Fixer Bird Seed Packer Bookfolder Bread Baker Brewer's Cellarman Bricklayer Brickworks Labourer Brush Maker Butcher Butler Caddy Cardboard Box Maker Carpenter Carter Chafe Cutter Chauffeur Chimney Sweep Coach Painter |
Coachman Coil Winder Colour Mixer Compositor Confectioner Cook Cop Winder Cushion Stuffer Dairyfarmer Dairyman Diesinker Donkeyman Draper Dressmaker Engineer's Fitter Farm Carter Farm Horseboy Farm Labourer Farm Shepherd Farrier Fireman |
Fish Hawker Fisherman Fishmonger Footman French Polisher Furrier Galvanizer Game Keeper Gas Fitter Goods Guard Greengrocer Groundsman Gun Powder Mixer Harness Cleaner Harness Maker Hat Sticker Helmet Maker Inland Revenue Officer* Inspector of Nuisances Insurance Clerk Iron Moulder |
Japanner Joiner Lace Cleaner Lamp Porter Laundress Letter Sorter Lift Attendant Lithographer Lock Keeper Mason Milliner Motor Bus Driver Music Teacher Musician** Nurse Maid Ostrich Feather Curler Parlourmaid Pattern Maker Paviour Pedlar Photographer |
Plasterer Platelayer Plumber Police Sergeant*** Postman* Publican Rag Cutter Railway Checker Railway Engine Cleaner Railway Porter Railway Sewer Railway Shunter Railway Signalman Railway Timekeeper Railway Trimmer Ring Winder Scientific Instrument Maker Shirt Ironer Shipwright Shopkeeper Shorthand Typist |
Silk Weaver Slater Slaughterman Slotting Machinist Social Worker Soldier Station Master Steam Roller Driver Stoker Storekeeper Teacher Telegraph Boy Tin Miner Tinsmith Tram Conductor Tram Driver Valet Wagon Repairer Weaver Wheelwright X-Ray Operator |
* See our pages dedicated to British Civil Service Commission Appointments 1871-1942, and British Postal Establishment Appointments 1943-1979.
** Yann Lovelock provided a very comprehensive guide to a number of Lovelock musicians in Issue 5 of our 'Lovelock Lines' newsletter .
Information on some less-well-celebrated Lovelock Musicians is available here.
*** See our page on Lovelocks, Lovelucks and Law Enforcement
The latest occupational information we have is from the 1939 Register. This shows us that some of the areas of work that Lovelocks and Lovelucks had not previously ventured into as recorded in the Census Returns were:
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Acetylene Burning Aeronautical Engineering Aircraft Inspection Artificial Silk Sewing Boiler Scarfing Brass Lacquering |
Commercial Artistry Concrete Construction Crane Driving Locomotive Driving Munitions Paper Bag Sorting |
Pig Farming Professional Golfing RAF Service Rubber Mat Making Sand Blasting Sausage Linking |
Shop Blind Making Sugar Dissolving Telephone Operating Van Driving Window Cleaning Wireless Repairing |
We certainly can not accuse our Lovelock and Loveluck ancestors of not adapting to and embracing evolving and developing working opportunities, environments and technologies.