The Big Book of Genealogy

O

ob. (abbreviation) obit, deceased

OB (abbreviation) order book, as in court order book

obiit. (abbreviation) he or she died

obit. (abbreviation) obituary

Occupier Tradesman

OFF Standard Abbreviation for County of Offaly Ireland(Chapman Code)

Oil Colour Man Employed in the paint manufacturing trade, mixing pigmented paints

Oilman Lamp oil seller

Oil Miller Miller of seed to extract oils for food manufacture. Rapeseed, cottonseed, linseed etc. Cottonseed oil was also used to lubricate the spinning mule.

OKI Standard Abbreviation for Orkney Scotland(Chapman Code)

Olitor Kitchen gardener

Olitory Kitchen garden

Olographic will A handwritten will and signed by the individual that the will belongs to.

On the Club This is not an occupation but is often seen in census returns. It refers the the person being out of work and drawing benefit from "the Club", which was an appropriate insurance scheme.

Oral history A collection of family stories told by a member of the family or by a close family friend.

Oral will (Nuncupative will) - declared or dictated by the testator in his last sickness before a sufficient number of witnesses and afterwards put in writing

Orderly Military batman or officer's servant

Ordinary Keeper Innkeeper with fixed prices

Orphan Child whose mother, father, or both have died.

Orphan assylum orphanage Home for orphans

Orrery Maker Made an apparatus which showed planetary movements. Named after the inventor, the Earl of Orrery

Orrice Weaver Designer Wove lace patterns in silk

Osier or Withy Peelers Peeled bark from willow stems (osiers) for basket weaving - usually done by women & children

Osler Bird catcher

Ostiary Monastery doorkeeper

Ostler / Hostler Originally, a Hostler was the host of an Inn or (H)ostelry. Later became the man employed to look after the horses of the visitors

Out Crier Auctioneer

Outworker Home-worker, particularly in weaving

Overband Leather that goes round spine of a book

Overlooker Overseer or foreman esp. in textile mills

Overman Colliery supervisor - checked the workers and coal quality

Overseer The officials who performed the assessment and collection of the poor-rates

Owler Smuggler - particularly of sheep or wool

OXY - Standard Abbreviation for County of Oxfordshire, England (Chapman Code)

Oyster Hawker Street seller of pickled oysters - 18/19th century

Oyster Dredger Crew member on an oyster boat