Engineer: true or false?

[hoolianama0508]

Can anyone tell me if the occupation of Engineer was ever used in place of something else?  For example, builder?

The supposed father of my great-grandmother was listed on her marriage certificate as an "engineer." Here are the reasons I doubt this was true:

1) she was illegitimate - his name is not on her birth certificate
2) her mother was a "cartridge filler"  - doubt she would have socialized with an engineer.
3) I have not been able to find him anywhere.

[youngtug]

A civil engineer is involved in building. Although anyone could be called an engineer.

[groom]

A lot of children who were illegitimate made up the names and occupations of their fathers on their marriage certificates so that it looked respectable. She may have just done this and said engineer as it sounded good. 

[barryd]

On the railways were the Engineers and Firemen who operated steam locomotives. Their  Union ASLEF is still in existence. Other people would be "mechanics" and "fitters" who could eventually call themselves engineers, or could be called "engineers" on their children's marriage certificates.

[hoolianama0508]

Thanks for the responses. I will keep checking. I will check the railway since ironically she was born at 11 Railway Street!

It also could be a totally made up name.

[youngtug]

The term "engineer" for a engine driver on the railway is American. In the UK it is usually train driver.

[Bookbox]

Not necessarily the railways. Anyone who operated or maintained any sort of machinery (or 'engine') might call themselves an engineer.

http://www.census1891.com/occupations-e.htm

[majm]

If you have access to digitised newspapers for the era and the district you could try searching for instances of the word "engineer" ....

Here's an example from digitised newspapers published in New South Wales, Australia where the word "engineer" is used.  The NSW newspaper (The Empire, of 10 June 1860) is quoting from The London TIMES  of April 17th, 1860 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/60411967

Cheers,  JM

[sallyyorks]

My grt grandad worked in the weaving/spinning mills  (from childhood) in Yorkshire  and elder family used to describe him as "a loom engineer" , i think it was probably  a word used to describe a power loom mechanic: :)   .