Do you have Cordwainers in your family tree? The occupational term derives from Cordova in Spain.
Cordwainers were makers of boots and shoes and the finest were produced from goatskin of
Cordova, Spain, thus giving to the craft the name of cordovaners, or cordwainers. The organisation of the leather workers in London was highly complex with numerous separate
mysteries dealing with particular aspects of trade.
From the 13th century onwards ordinances and acts were made which attempted to define the limits of crafts such as curriers, tanners, cobblers and cordwainers. The earliest of these ordinances directly dealing with the Cordwainers are dated 1271/2. The charter of incorporation to the freeman of the Mystery of Cordwainer, dated 12th April 1439, gave to the company control over the trade in new shoes and tanned leather throughout the City and within two miles thereof. The powers of the Cordwainers’ Company were effective for longer than most of the other City guilds being continued into the nineteenth century, with special powers under Act of Parliament. Its influence also extended over guilds of the craft in other cities and areas.
Guild records, especially those for apprentices are very useful for tracing your ancestors and can give information to ages and where they originated from.
