Daily AncestorGentleman
Gentleman in old records was a status, meaning a man of means who did not work with his hands, rather than a description of manners.
In English usage a gentleman ranked above a yeoman, and colonial deeds and wills use it to mark men of property and standing. It does not mean a job in the modern sense.
For people living on investments, later census instructions asked for other words: capitalist in 1900 and own income in 1910.
As seen in a recordColonial deeds, wills and court records
Robt. Hale of Westmoreland Co., gentleman
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Daily Ancestor. "Gentleman." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/gentleman. Last checked 2026-10-01.