During the French occupation in the Netherlands (1795-1813), many of the official records were written in French. Here are some of the occupations you can find in the records, with their English translations.
The farmer. Print by Jan and Casper Luyken, circa 1690. Credits: Picturing the past
Accoucheur > Obstetrician
Adjoint > Aldermen
Adjoint-Maire > Interim mayor
Advocat > Lawyer
Agriculteur > Farmer
Aide > Aide
Amurier > Weapon smith
Apoticaire > Apothecary
Apprentif > Apprentice
Armurier > Weapon smith
Arpenteur > Surveyor
Aubergist > Innkeeper
Avocatte > Lawyer
Avoué > Procurator
Avouré > Procurator
Bancher > Coach driver
Banchisser > Bleacher
Batelier > Skipper
Berger > Shepherd
Bijoutier > Jeweller
Blanchisseur > Bleacher
Blatier > Corn trader
Boorrelier > Harness maker
Bottier > Boot maker
Boucher > Butcher
Boulanger > Baker
Bourrelier > Saddle maker
Boutiquier > Shopkeeper
Boutonier > Button maker
Bradder > Beer brewer
Brasseur > Brewer
Brossier > Brush maker
Buralist > Civil servant, clerk
Cabaretier > Innkeeper
Cafetier > Barkeeper
Cardeur de laine > Wool shearer
Chandelier > Candlemaker
Chapelier > Hat maker
Charbonnier > Fuel trader
Charbonnier > Coal burner
Charpentier > Carpenter
Charretier > Cart man
Charretier > Driver
Charron > Waggon maker
Chaudronnier > Copper smith
Cocher > Driver, coach man
Cochond > Pig trader
Colporteur > Peddler
Commis > Office worker
Commis > Clerk
Commisionaire > Representative
Rope maker, about 1694. Credits: Jan and Casper Luyken, Picturing the Past
Conducteur d’Etalon > Horse driver
Conducteur de postes > Post man
Confiturier > Shopkeeper dealing in sugared fruits
Conseilleur > Councilor
Consieller > Procurator
Constructeur de Vosseaud > Ship maker
Constructeur maritime > Ship builder
Cordier > Rope maker
Cordonnier > Shoemaker
Coutier > Weaver
Couturière > Seamstress
Couvreur > Roofer
Crieur public > Town crier
Crieur > Crier
Croheteur > Carrier
Cultivateur > Farmer
Curé > Curate
Domestique > Domestic servant
Doreur > Gold plater
Ebéniste > Shriner
Ecipier > Grocer
Ecrivain > Writer, scribe
Employe à Tribunal > Employee of the court
Employe aux Digues > Employee of the dikeworks
Employe des Droits Reunis > Employee of the tax service
Employé > Civil servant
Entreprenneur > Contractor
Epicier > Grocer
Escouade > Corporal
Etudiant > Student
Fabrikant d’instruments > Instrument maker
Fabriquer > Manufacturer
Facteur des Instruments > Instrument maker
Facteur > Post man
Faisseur d’Orgries > Organ builder
Farinier > Flour seller
Ferblantier > Tin smith
Fermier > Tenant farmer
Ferrand > Farrier
Forgeron > Smith
Fossoyer > Ditch digger
Fossoyeur > Grave digger
Fourbisseur > Arms dealer
Fourneur en Bois > Wood trader
Fripier > Second-hand dealer
Garçon > Boy
Garde de Champêtre > Constable
Garde de Côte > Coast watch
Garde Digue > Dike watchman
Garde Gardien > Guard
Gardien > Guard
Gendarme > Constable
Geôlier > Jailor
Geometre > Surveyor
Geuteur > Stocking maker
Grabuleur > Freighter
Greffier > Court clerk
Horloger > Watch maker or clock maker
Hôte > Innkeeper
Huilier > Oil trader
Huissier > Messenger, custodian
Imprimeur > Printer
Instituteur > Teacher
Intermédiaire > Intermediary
Jardinier > Gardener
Journalier > Day laborer
Juge de Paix > Justice of the Peace
School teacher; etching by Jan and Casper Luyken, about 1694. Credits: Picturing the Past
Laboureur > Laborer
Laitier > Milk trader
Lamaneur > Pilot (of ships)
Libraire > Book trader
Limonadier > Lemonade manufacturer
Macon > Mason
Maitre d’école > School teacher
Maitre du Chantier > Ship builder
Maljenier > Iron trader
Manouvrier > Day laborer, craftsman
Marchand de Boisson > Liquor trader
Marchand de Drap > Cloth trader
Marchand des Grains > Grain trader
Marchand > Trader, merchant
Maréchal ferrand > Farrier
Maréchal > Farrir
Marin > Sailor
Marquillier > Custodian
Marronnier > Trader
Massager > Freighter
Masson > Mason
Matelot > Sailor
Médecin > Doctor
Medium > Intermediary
Membre du Conseil Municipal > Member of the municipal council
Mendiant > Beggar
Menusier > Shriner
Menusier de Vin > Vintner, wine trader
Menusier > Miller
Messager > Messenger
Mesureur > Surveyor
Metron > Calibrator
Meunier > Miller
Mineur > Miner
Ministre de Culte > Minister
Ministre > Minister
Mitron > Pastry baker’s hand
Moitre des Digues > Dike master
Moulenier > Miller
Municipal > Municipal civil servant
Musicien > Musicien
Musiquillier > Musicien
Natteur > Mat maker
Nattier > Mat braider
Négociant > Banker, wholesaler
Negotiant > Trader
Officier de Santé > Doctor in the countryside
Orfèvre > Gold or silver smith
Orphelin > Orphan boy
Orpheline > Orphan girl
Ouvrier > Worker, laborer
Paison > Farm hand
Parfumeur > Perfume maker
Passager > Traveler, traveling salesman
Passement > Salesman
Pasteur > Pastor or minister
Patron > Patron, employer
Pattissier > Pastry baker
Paveur > Paver, street maker
Pécheur > Fisherman
Peigneur de Laine > Wool comber
Peintre > Painter
Pelletier > Furrier
Percepteur > Driver
Percepteur > Tax collector
Percepteur > Collector
Perrequier > Wig maker
Pharmaceur > Apothecary
Pharmacien > Apothecary
Pharmacin > Druggist
Pilote > Pilot (ships)
Plombier > Plumber
Poellenier > Hearth smith
Poissonier > Fishmonger
Portefaix > Carter
Postillon > Post man
Potier d’étain > Tin smith
Potier > Potter
Preposé de l ‘Octroi > Supervising civil servant
Preposéau Sas > Water board civil servant
Prier d’enterrement > Undertaker
Prieur > Prior
Propriétaire de navire > Owner of ships
Propriétaire terrien > Land owner
Propriétaire > Home owner
Provot > Provost
Quincaillier > Iron trader
Raffineur en socre > Sugar refiner
Ramoneur > Chimney sweep
Recerveur > Tax collector
Recteur > Collector
Relieur > Book binder
Rémouleur > Scissor grinder
Remoulier > Scissor grinder
Reparateur > Repairman
Repartier > Repairman
Revendeur > Buyer
Sabotier > Wooden shoe maker
Sacristain > Sacrist
Sagefemme > Midwife
Sautier > Bailiff
Savetter > Cobbler
Savonnier > Soap maker
Sculpteur > Sculptor
Sellier > Saddle maker
Serrurier > Lock maker
Serurier > Lock maker
Servante > Servant
Serviteur > Servant
Stucateur > Plasterer
Weaver. Print by Jan and Casper Luyken, circa 1690 (public domain)
Tailleur de pierres > Stone carver
Tailleur > Tailor
Tambour de ville > Crier
Tamisier > Sift maker
Tanneur > Tanner
Tapisier > Trader in wall paper and rugs
Tapissier > Wallpaperer
Tappisseur > Rug maker
Tavernier > Innkeeper
Teinturier > Fabric painter
Teinturier > Wool painter
Teneur de livres > Bookkeeper
Terrassier > Subcontractor, dike worker
Tisserand > Weaver
Tonnelier > Cooper
Tourneur > Turner
Tradecteur > Translator
Traîneur > Person who dragged a ship using a horse
Traiteur > Cook
Tripier > Seller of tripe and offal
Valet de Labour > Farm hand
Valet > Hand, servant
Vanier > Basket maker
Vannier > Basket maker
Vendeur > Seller
Verrier > Glass maker
Vétérinaire > Veterinarian
Vidangeur > Night worker
Vitrier > Glass maker
Vitries > Glass maker
Vivandier > Peddler
Voiturier > Freighter
Volier > Freighter
About Yvette Hoitink
Good to see “colporteur” which was the occupation of one of my paternal ancestors who appears to have been a “teuten” from Luyksgestel, Noord-Brabant, but moved to Kortrijk, West-Vlaanderen in the 1810s. In Dutch-language records he was called a “vraegenden koopman” or “omzwervenden koopman.”