Croker is for Crocker, a maker of crocks or pitchers. The Miller's guests only retired to bed—
"Whan that dronken al was in the crowke" (A, 4158)
The spelling has affected the pronunciation, as in Sloper and Smoker (Chapter III). Tinker is sometimes found as the frequentative Tinkler, a name traditionally due to his approach being heralded by the clatter of metal utensils—
"My bonny lass, I work on brass,
A tinkler is my station."
(BURNS, Jolly Beggars, Air 6.)
The maker of saddle-trees was called Fewster, from Old Fr. fust (fût), Lat. fustis. This has sometimes given Foster, but the latter is more often for Forster, i.e. Forester—
"An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene,
A forster was he soothly as I gesse,"
(A, 116.)
The saddler himself was often called by his French name sellier, whence Sella', but both this and Sellars are also local, at the cellars (Chapter III). Pargeter means dauber, plasterer, from Old Fr. parjeter, to throw over. A Straker made the strakes, or tires, of wheels. A Stanger made stangs, i.e. poles, shafts, etc.
The fine arts are represented by Limmer, for limner, a painter, an aphetic form of illumines, and Tickner is perhaps from Dutch tekener, draughtsman, cognate with Eng, token, while the art of self-defence has given us the name Scrimgeoure, with a number of corruptions, including the local-looking Skrimshire. It is related to scrimmage and skirmish, and ultimately to Ger. schirmen, to fence, lit. to protect. The name was applied to a professional swordplayer—