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Quiz about Old Occupations
Quiz about Old Occupations

Old Occupations Trivia Quiz


While researching the family tree I came across some unusual occupations. Do you think you can help me with these?

A multiple-choice quiz by dcpddc478. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
dcpddc478
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
328,638
Updated
Sep 24 24
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
2782
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: doreen27 (8/10), Guest 94 (7/10), Guest 104 (1/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. If you are checking your family tree and come across the word "boniface" in the occupation description of your great-great Uncle Norbert, what was his profession? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Next you see that the family tree mentions Uriah, your fourth cousin twice removed who is listed as a "puddler". What was cousin Uriah's profession? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Now you have found your maternal grandfather's name in an old newspaper. He is described as "the best sawbones in town". What was his occupation? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. As you keep searching public records help you find that your great-grandmother had been the widow of a peruker when she wed your great-grandfather. What hairy job had her deceased husband done for a living? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. When looking at old obituaries you find Ethelbert, your second cousin-in-law on your mother's side was a piscator and worked with what kind of animals? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. While looking at old pictures with your grandmother, she shows you a photo of your great-aunt Hagatha. She tells you that Hagatha was the greatest dowser in the county. What did your great-aunt do for a living? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. While reading old newspapers you see that your godfather was in jail 50 years ago, after a disagreement with a tipstaff. What professional person did your godfather have an argument with? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. While you are looking at the family tree, you find that great-great-uncle Ferdinand was a noted wainwright back in the old country. What type of vehicle did a wainwright make? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. While archiving on the Internet you notice that Hagatha, your sixth cousin twice removed was married off to a long line of aurifabers. By looking at the word
"aurifabers" can you figure out what metal her new family worked with?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Now that you are done exploring your ancestry and their occupations you decide to visit your father the greengrocer. Which of the following would you most likely see at your father's store? Hint



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Today : doreen27: 8/10
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. If you are checking your family tree and come across the word "boniface" in the occupation description of your great-great Uncle Norbert, what was his profession?

Answer: Innkeeper

Great-great Uncle Norbert was an innkeeper. A rather prestigious position, being an innkeeper usually meant that you always had food and a roof over your head. It often also meant you were a property owner.
2. Next you see that the family tree mentions Uriah, your fourth cousin twice removed who is listed as a "puddler". What was cousin Uriah's profession?

Answer: Wrought iron worker

Cousin Uriah was a wrought iron worker. He was probably strong. He was probably poor but was still not at the bottom of the social scale because he was a tradesman.
3. Now you have found your maternal grandfather's name in an old newspaper. He is described as "the best sawbones in town". What was his occupation?

Answer: Doctor

"Sawbones" is an old term for a doctor or physician. It is a term that can sometimes still be heard by older members of society.
4. As you keep searching public records help you find that your great-grandmother had been the widow of a peruker when she wed your great-grandfather. What hairy job had her deceased husband done for a living?

Answer: Wig maker

He would have been a wig maker. This was an important job for many years as the upper class were prone to shave their heads because of lice and wore wigs all the time. Also there were long periods in American and British history where men wore powdered wigs whenever in public. A good wig maker had steady work and his creations were highly sought after and well paid for.
5. When looking at old obituaries you find Ethelbert, your second cousin-in-law on your mother's side was a piscator and worked with what kind of animals?

Answer: Fish

A piscator was a fisherman. Notice the similarity to the word Pisces? They both came from the Latin word "piscis", which means fish. This was hard, dangerous work. Fishermen and their families often formed tight-knit communities that were self-reliant and helped take care of the widows and orphans that were all too common in their society.
6. While looking at old pictures with your grandmother, she shows you a photo of your great-aunt Hagatha. She tells you that Hagatha was the greatest dowser in the county. What did your great-aunt do for a living?

Answer: She found water

A dowser is someone who finds underground water through the act of dousing or divination. This is an, as yet, unproven skill practiced for hundreds of years. The dowser uses a forked limb or two rods which she/he holds in front of her/himself. The gravitational pull of the water is supposed to cause movement by the limb/rod.

A dowser was used to tell a farmer, rancher, or other party, where to drill for water. Their services were considered vital and it was/is an occupation that was performed by both men and women.
7. While reading old newspapers you see that your godfather was in jail 50 years ago, after a disagreement with a tipstaff. What professional person did your godfather have an argument with?

Answer: Bailiff

A tipstaff was an officer of the court whose duties varied depending on which country he worked in, and the term was just one of many for law enforcement officers. The term could cover police, bailiffs, sheriffs, and constables. This term referred to the staff often carried as a sign of office.
8. While you are looking at the family tree, you find that great-great-uncle Ferdinand was a noted wainwright back in the old country. What type of vehicle did a wainwright make?

Answer: Wagon

A wagon maker was also called a wainwright. The term is a combination of two words, "wain" which meant a farm wagon, and "wright" which meant "maker of". An associated name and/or word is "cartwright", which meant a maker of carts.
9. While archiving on the Internet you notice that Hagatha, your sixth cousin twice removed was married off to a long line of aurifabers. By looking at the word "aurifabers" can you figure out what metal her new family worked with?

Answer: Gold

An aurifaber was a goldsmith. The word, like many of the previous answers in this quiz became the surname to the practitioners of this given trade. The word comes from Latin translations of "auri" meaning gold and "faber" meaning smith or worker.
10. Now that you are done exploring your ancestry and their occupations you decide to visit your father the greengrocer. Which of the following would you most likely see at your father's store?

Answer: Fruits and Vegetables

A greengrocer sold fruits and vegetables. The term is still used colloquially in the modern world. Before the world of supermarkets, most food was bought at shops that specialized in certain types of food. There were fishmongers who sold fish and bakers who sold bread and butchers who sold meat. Many of these occupations disappeared with modernization.
Source: Author dcpddc478

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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