Definition of 'tramp' in Ireland

[mandypea]

Has anyone any idea of the definition of the word 'tramp' in Ireland around the middle 1800/ early 1900's? The word tramp means 'homeless people walking the country' however the tramps I am interested in all had accommodation (lodgings) on the census' and I know that some of them were gainfully employed ie farm labourers/labourers.

[nickr90]

On census night they were enumerated in whatever lodgings they had on the night. It does not preclude a generaly homeless state.

[fifer1947]

Basically "a man of the open road" who tramped from place to place seeking work etc.  Doesn't mean they didn't put up at places from time to time but they had no fixed abode.

[mandypea]

Thank you for this. I'm still no wiser as to why large numbers of my family were listed as tramps under profession on census.

[fifer1947]

Many were homeless after the potato famine and just became itinerate workers constantly on the move.

[fifer1947]

http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/before.htm

The Irish, for their part, were not about to simply sit still and die. The whole population of the starving country began to move about. Cities, villages and entire districts were abandoned. Western Ireland was nearly depleted of its population. Among country folk, the centuries-old communal way of life with its traditional emphasis on neighborly sharing, now collapsed. It was replaced by a survival mentality in which every family, every person fended for themselves. Family bonds also disintegrated as starving parents deserted their children and children likewise deserted their parents.

[mandypea]

I realise that the potato famine caused many families to move .... my family are from Wexford, gt grandmother born 1888 gt grandfather 1887,(married in Gorey, 1909) and are 'tramp. on 1911 census???  a puzzle to me as I know my gt grandfather was in work at the time, and no-one in the family has ever heard the term 'tramp' being used in family lore.... the term itinerant workers - would tramp still be used to describe them in 1911?

[fifer1947]

Probably, I remember "tramps" calling at our house in Glasgow for a brew up (and a sandwich) when I was little just after the war.  My gran was a soft touch being Irish herself. 

It's a bit difficult to pick yourself up and start over when there is no welfare system in place, if you weren't local the parish didn't have to provide.

[mandypea]

That puzzles me too, they were both born, married, lived and died in County Wexford, so they were relatively 'local' and would therefore be able to make use of the 'Parish', Margarets father also was listed as 'tramp' on her marriage certificate (although I have no more info on him) By the way the family were led to believe that Margaret came from a 'good' family and her parents were against her marrying John, as she would be marrying 'beneath' her!!!