Behind the Name
the etymology and history of first names
Login   Register
Search

View Message

 Post a Message      Search      Help/Rules/FAQ      Archives      Board Home      Other Boards

<  >
Subject: Re: name
Author: Daividh   (guest, 209.209.173.236)
Date: May 3, 2001 at 8:34:34 PM
Reply to: name by Tracie
Hi Tracie,

"Sawyer" is one of over 100 traditional occupations still used as surnames (or in many cases, first names) in English.

A "sawyer" was someone who sawed for a living -- in most cases, cutting planks lengthwise out of squared treetrunks. Often this was done with a pit saw, using a crosscut-type saw (like a lumberjack) vertically.

The trunk was laid over the pit horizontally and one sawyer worked the saw end in the pit while his partner worked the topside end of the same saw. Incredibly hard work, but our ancestors were a bit tougher than we.

- Da.

Because this message is archived you cannot respond to it.

Messages in this thread:

Home : Boards : Name Facts Message Board : Archives : May 2001 About | Copyright © | Terms | Contact
Advertising served by SheKnows Family