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'Cow-banger', 'turnip shepherd' and 'proprietor of midgets': The 24 strangest sounding things people used to have as 'jobs'

'Cow-banger', 'turnip shepherd' and 'proprietor of midgets': The 24 strangest sounding things people used to have as 'jobs'

In the 1881 census, people were first asked to describe their "rank, profession or occupation".

As preserved by the London Genealogical Society, and subsequently brought to prominence by Jeff Kacirk's Forgotten English, here's a brief list of some of the 'occupations' people gave themselves - presumably having a bit of fun with it.

We're just hoping "cow-banger" isn't what we think it might be...

Vote for your favourite in our ranked list below:

HT Jordan Erica Webber

More:Here are 30 of the most bizarre phrases in the English language and what they actually mean

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