Genealogy Chat

One of my ancesters was a Drep maker. Google brings back several references to 'drep maker' but no explanation of what it means. Where can I find further information? Thanks

I am quite certain that it says Drep, Google search returns several examples of 'Drep Maker' in other peoples family trees. I think it might be something to do with the cotton industry?

Hi, I know you said it is definitely 'drep', but if it is an early census when they used the long 'f' for a 'ss' - it can often look like a 'p'. - In which case it could well be 'dress maker' Possibly? Dea x Sorry, just realised that Marion has already explained this. Dea x

When I saw your title I too thought it will be dress. A second s was often written rather like a large sloping p, just as in Germany double-s is often written like a big flowery B. nell

I would say 110% this is dressmaker with the old fashioned long f type symbol. I have seen it so many times on census images.

I'd say it's dress too. You cannot be a drep maker unless there is such a thing as a drep! And a drep is.............................???? I tried googling too, but most of the occurances of ''drep maker'' look like transcriptions (mis-transcriptions) of census material! (no pun intended!) Merry (ps....never ask about the transcribing I did for FreeCEN in 1998 .....I'm sure I produced several drep makers...blush)

Thanks everybody, I will assume that 'Drep maker' means that my ancester was a 'Dress maker'. FYI, the entry was on the 1861 census, It is amazing how difficult it is to read many things in the earlier census entries, but it is also sad that we have lost the ability to read and write the beautiful handwritten script.

Unless it was a drape maker....who made drapes (curtain type things)

NAUGHTY Jess !! I HAD thought of that but it only complicates matters - Sometimes ignorance is bliss and there is nothing wrong with a dressmaker, unless he is 25 stone with a big beard and hairy chest !! Dea x (Tee hee)! Mind, If they were scottish, they might well pronounce drapes as 'dreps' !!! (Now I'M being wicked too ) Xx

Stop it, Jess, or I will wave my magic wand and turn you back to Wonderland!! If I'd been the enumerator I would have put Curtain Maker! LOL Merry

Hi David, I might be 'teaching your Granny to suck eggs' but have you tried looking at www(.)gendocs(.)demon(.)co(.)uk/trades.html.......remove brackets. Drep maker is not on there but it is very useful for old occupations. Regards Susan

Dare I mention that dress maker was often used as a euphemism for prostitute?!

Nell, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT !!!!!!!!! - Could explain a lot for me. Dea Xxx

On my Gt Gt Grandmother's marriage certificate in 1857 her occupation is given as what looks like Dup. maker, I suppose at a push it could be drep but it definitely is not dress. I guess it is linked to dress making though as that is what she became after her marriage. Ann Glos

Gawd! What have i done now? Merry- Flail me in private please 'Dup' is a particular kind of fabric i think. very soon after i joined this site i remember a thread about 'what was a duck maker?' Transpired after we'd been silly round plastic bath toys etc etc it was the cloth that boat sails/barge canvas covers were made out of that this person was employed to produce

I suppose that would be logical, but if it is a kind of cloth it would insinuate work in a mill and my Gt Gt Grandmother came from Highgate Middlesex. I often wondered if it was short for duplicate (as in duplicate patterns etc.). Haven't thought about it for a while but now it has been raised again I will be wondering again now. Ann Glos