Please decipher this occupation

[cunners]

I know it is something barge, but other than that I can't be sure.



Cheers

[Treetotal]

Keilman?



Keeler / Keelman 

Bargeman / Keelman: Someone who works on a keel or a barge

Carol

[gaffy]

Helmsman Barge???

[Seoras]

Could it be this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keelmen

[stanmapstone]

It is Keelman and the census clerk categorising occupations has annotated "Barge"
Stan

[cunners]

Well that was quick!  Thanks everyone, never heard of a keelsman before, very interesting.

[stanmapstone]

You dont say where and what census it is but in the 1881 census the Instructions to the clerks employed in classifying the occupations  of the people is to put  Keelman, Keeler in Order 6 Sub-order 1 BARGEMAN &c.

Stan

[cunners]

Hi, this is from an 1891 census from South Bank, Middlesbrough. The person involved was from the Newcastle area though so the earlier link about Tyne keelsman is probably relevant. Not sure he was doing the same thing on the Tees though, probably something to do with the steel industry.

[Seoras]

Could be cunners, but also it appears several old Middlesborough pubs reflected the trades of those that drank in them and one was named The Keelmen.