jan 1, 1461 - janitor

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In Latin documents ‘janitor’ was the word for the door-keeper or porter of an abbey, derived from the Latin word for ‘door’. This was traditionally where money was distributed to the poor, made possible by charitable donations. The by-name occurs in early charters: 1190-1206 <i> Nicholao Janitore </i>, Healaugh (YRS92/83); <i> c. </i>1216 <i> Ricardo Janitore </i>, Pontefract (YRS25/208). Walter de Dodemore was the janitor of Scarborough castle in 1274-5 (YRS151/107) and in <i> c </i>.1293 Thomas Schayf of Ingerthorpe granted to God, <i> et Beatæ Mariæ et janitori de Fontibus, ad sustentationem pauperum ibidem ad portam convenientium annuum redditum duorum denariorum </i> (SS49/212). Examples of ‘janitor’ in the OED date only from <i> c </i>.1630 but it had stabilised in York much earlier: 1401 <i> William del Hall, janitor of St Mary’s Abbey </i>; 1461 <i> John Staneburn, janitor, Mons. bl. Mary </i>, York (YRS6/77,157).

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