Is a Higler an occupation?!

[Burto]

Hi,
Someone has just done a census search for me and one of  my ancestors is down as a Higler? Is this actually an occupation, or just a mis-spelling?

[Watermusic]

Well, it should have two g's - Higgler.

The occupation would be like a small time dealer.

Not a direct relative, I have a Hannah Dean (née French) who was a poulterer during her younger years, but in 1891 at the grand old age of 74, (she could no longer chase the chickens?) Hannah turned up as a higgler.

I think of it as haggling! probably from the same original verb?

Watermusic

[kerryb]

Hi

That is just what this website http://cpcug.org/user/jlacombe/terms.html says - one who haggles or bargains or itinerant dealer, similar to a cadger

Kerry

[Romilly]

Hi,
Someone has just done a census search for me and one of  my ancestors is down as a Higler? Is this actually an occupation, or just a mis-spelling?

Hi There,

There's a short story by A.E.Coppard, called "The Higgler". Its in his book of collected short stories; which I have somewhere here.

I believe its about a sort of "wheeler dealer". Does it also relate to selling eggs...or was that a "heggler"?

Best Wishes, Romilly.

[goggy]

Burto,just checked that out on an old occupation's site,higler was in among my searches,itinerant trader,seem's to back up other answer's eh?
              . ;)Goggy

[Jane Eden]

Hi Burto

higger, higgler - Pedlar, usually with a horse and cart. (Also called  a haggler. The word haggler, that is someone who bargains, comes from this name).

Ref: A dictionary of old trades, titles and occupations, Colin Waters, Countryside books, 2002.

Jane

[keith110639]

I was interested in this occupation that I have found on census forms and was told that it was someone who was a small time dealer or haggler. However talking today to some South Lincolnshire pensioners with roots in farming over the age of 70 I was told that around these parts a higgler was a person that did work going from farm to farm ploughing and doing other work using his own horses & plough etc. He would now be a contractor with his own tractor, combine harvester etc.
Regards
Keith

[ricky1]

 
 According to the Oxford complete wordfinder a higgler was another name for a haggler, which means to wrangle, higgle, bicker, bargin, barter,  negotiate .
But just to throw a spanner in the works , in the 19 century a hangman was sometimes referred to as higgler.

[Frosty]

Keith, you may be right about some 'higglers' being independent farm workers, as one of my ancestors was listed as a higgler, and his father had been a farmer - so that would make some sense.
Frosty