Daily AncestorBarber surgeon
A barber surgeon cut hair and shaved customers but also let blood, pulled teeth and treated wounds, a medical trade of medieval and early modern Europe.
Physicians of the time seldom did surgery, so barbers, who had razors and steady hands, took on minor operations, bloodletting and the care of soldiers' wounds.
Over the 1700s surgery and barbering separated into different trades. In American records you are more likely to meet the plain barber, but older European documents for immigrant ancestors may use the combined title.
As seen in a recordEuropean church and guild records
Hans Ritter, barber surgeon
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Daily Ancestor. "Barber surgeon." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/barber-surgeon. Last checked 2026-10-01.