Daily AncestorTapster
A tapster drew beer, ale or other liquor from the cask and served it to customers in a tavern or inn, an early form of bartender.
The tapster worked for the innholder or tavern keeper rather than owning the place. The job was to tap casks, draw drinks, serve customers and keep track of what was owed.
By the later 1800s Americans usually said bartender instead. Tapster in a record is a sign of an older document or of an English or Irish origin.
As seen in a recordColonial and early 1800s records
Richd. Cole, tapster, at the Sign of the Bell
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Tapster." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/tapster. Last checked 2026-10-01.