Translations of servant’s job descriptions and titles at Danish manors

By The Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies

This page features a translation of servant’s titles and job descriptions at Danish manors as they are presented in national censuses in Denmark from the late 18th century until the beginning of the 20th century. Note that translations in some cases may be imprecise as some job functions have a specific meaning in a local Danish context.

Amme: Wet nurse

Arbejdskarl: Farmhand

Arbejdskusk: Farm driver

Avlsforvalter: Person leading the work on a larger farm or at the estate farm. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Avlskarl: Farmhand

Bager: Baker

Barnepige: Nurse, nanny

Baronessepige: Lady’s maid, in this case serving the baroness(es) in the household

Berider: Riding master

Blegmand: Man bleaching clothes

Boyer/Bojer: Possibly a messenger. Person who runs errands.

Bryggerpige: Scullery maid

Bødker: Cooper

Konditor: Confectioner

Dansemester: Dancing master

Dreng: Boy, young male servant

Fasanmester: Pheasant master. Person who is responsible for pheasant rearing.

Fisker: Fisherman

Fodermester: Cattleman, cowman, herdsman

Foged: Person supervising subordinates/servants on the estate farm. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Forrider: Outrider

Forpagter: Leaseholder of the estate

Forvalter: Person leading the work at the estate, particularly at the estate farm. In some cases also responsible for the administration of the estate as a whole. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Francoise: Francoise, governess

Fruerpige: Lady’s maid

Frøkenpige: Lady’s maid, in this case serving the unmarried and/or young women in the household

Fuldmægtig: Head clerk

Funktionær: Manager

Fyrbøder: Stoker, fireman

Førster: Forester

Fårehyrde: Shepherd

Gartner: Gardener

Gartnerdreng: Gardener boy. (Young) male servant who does gardening.

Godsforvalter: Person leading the work at the estate, particularly at the estate farm. In some cases also responsible for the administration of the estate as a whole. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Godsinspektør: Person leading the work at the estate, particularly at the estate farm. In some cases also responsible for the administration of the estate as a whole. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Guvernante: Governess

Havekarl: Male servant who does gardening. Serving under the gardener.

Hegnsmand: Forester/gatekeeper supervising part of the fence around the forest

Hollænder: Leaseholder of the dairy (originally of Dutch origin)

Hollænderipige: Dairy maid

Hovmester: Butler, (earlier) tutor for the estate owner’s children

Husjomfru: Female cook who is head of the kitchen.

Husholderske: Housekeeper

Hyrde: Herder, shepherd

Hønsepige: Female servant responsible for the poultry. Often a young girl or an older woman.

Høstkarl: Harvest worker, male

Høstpige: Harvest worker, female.

Informator: Private teacher, preceptor, tutor

Jæger: Gamekeeper

Kalvekusk: Driver transporting meat or other food to and from the estate

Kammerjomfru: Lady’s maid

Kammerpige: Lady’s maid

Kammertjener: Valet

Kok: Cook, often a male cook head of the kitchen.

Kokkepige: Kitchen maid

Komtessepige: Lady’s maid, particular serving the unmarried daughter(s) of a count

Kontorist: Clerk

Kusk: Coachman

Køkkendreng: Kitchen boy, often a young boy

Køkkenkarl: Kitchen boy/man, often a young man/boy or old man. A man who works in the kitchen region doing the rough work. Not a cook.

Køkkenpige: Scullery or kitchen maid

Ladefoged: 1) Person supervising the estate farm and corvée, the unpaid work done by farmers 2) a trusted servant or “deputy manager” responsible for parts of the estate farms workforce or area of the farm. In some cases related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Ladekarl: Farmhand, possible, with a particular focus on work in the barn

Lakaj: Lackey, footman

Landvæsenselev: Apprentice undergoing training within agricultural studies

Linnedjomfru: Linen maid

Livjæger: Gamekeeper. In some cases also a valet.

Lugekone: Woman who weeds the garden

Lærerinde: Female private teacher, governess

Løber: Footman, lackey. Possibly a servant who in particular ran errands and delivered messages

Maler: House painter, decorator

Malkepige: Milkmaid, dairy maid

Materialforvalter: Person who administers and/or oversees the equipment on the estate farm.

Materialkusk: Farm driver, equipment driver.

Mejeriforpagter: Leaseholder of the dairy

Mejeripiger: Milkmaid, dairy maid

Mejerist: Dairyman overseeing and participating in the processing of the manor dairy products

Mejerske: 1) Dairy maid, 2) Female harvest worker who ties grain

Murmester/Murermester: Mason

Møller: Miller

Oldfrue: Housekeeper

Opdriver: Cattle herder

Overførster: Leading forester

Pige: Girl, female servant

Plovkarl: Plowman

Podemester: Gardener

Post: Postman

Præceptor: Preceptor, private teacher, tutor

Ridefoged: Person leading the work at the estate, particularly at the estate farm. In some cases also responsible for the administration of the estate as a whole. Related to the titles of the manager, steward, bailiff

Rideknægt: Groom, stable hand

Roepige: Woman working in the beet field

Røgter: Cattleman, herdsman, cowman

Schæfer: Shepherd

Selskabsdame: Companion, women employed or supported by an estate owner family for the purpose of accompanying and keeping the family, especially its ladies, company

Skovarbejder: Forester

Skovhugger: Lumberjack

Skovkusk: Forester, forestry worker transporting wood/logs on a carriage

Skovløber: Forester

Skovrider:  Forest manager

Skovfoged: Forest manager

Skriver: Clerk

Skytte: Gamekeeper

Smed: Blacksmith

Snedker: Woodworker

Spindepige: Spinner

Staldkarl: Groom, stable hand

Stuepige: House maid

Strygerske: Laundry maid, particularly doing the ironing

Syjomfru: Sewing maid

Taffeldækker: Male servant responsible for table arrangements

Tærsker: Harvest worker, person who threshes

Tjener: Footman, lackey. In some cases, synonymous with servant.

Tjenestefolk: Servants (plural)

Tjenestekarl: Male servant, often on the farm

Tjenestepige: Female servant

Tyende: Servant(s)

Tømrer: Carpenter

Udepige: Female servant working on the estate farm

Urtegårdsmand: Gardener

Vaskepige: Laundry maid

Vogter: 1) Herder, shepherd, 2) gatekeeper, 3) watchman

Vægter: Watchman

Væver: Weaver

For a Danish version of servant's job descriptions and titles click here.

Top image shows servants at Tjele in 1918. Photo: Ebeltoft Byhistoriske Arkiv.