Daily AncestorArchitect
An architect designed buildings, drew up their plans and often supervised their construction.
The word goes back through Latin to Greek arkhitekton, chief builder. Through ancient and medieval times most building design was done by craftsmen such as stonemasons and carpenters who rose to be master builders, and until modern times there was no clear line between an architect and an engineer.
Today an architect must complete training and practical experience to earn a license, with requirements that vary from place to place.
As seen in a recordOccupation column of the 1850 to 1880 census
Edwin Halloway, 44, Architect, Ohio
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Architect." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/architect. Last checked 2026-10-12.