What would a "Landed Proprietor" be?

[David Tuson]

I found an entry in an 1861 census with a visitor's occupation described as "Landed Proprietor". I can make an obvious assumption of the meaning - but does anyone have any definite ideas?
David

[Peter Goodey]

What would a "Landed Proprietor" be?

Where? I'll assume England. Scotland may have been different.

I believe it means what it says - the person owned land and lived off the proceeds. You'll need to do your own research to find out whether the land was half a county or half a dozen acres.

Many people in Victorian times seemed to like to inflate their own status - see also the number of people claiming the occupation "gentleman" in censuses.

[susan-w]

My gggrandfather, Charles King, is described as a landed proprietor in the 1861 census, and in the 1871 census (when he was 71) as “income derived from estate houses”.

He had inherited some property in Sudbury from his father, but I don’t know if it was enough to live on.

However, he had had a series of previous occupations to build up a pension In the baptism registers of his children, he had previously been described as a miller, then later coal merchant. In 1851 census, his daughter described him as a solicitor.

Therefore, as Peter said, the term landed proprietor is quite ambiguous, but it sounds good on the census form, particularly if you are a visitor.

[David Tuson]

Thanks Peter and Susan, your comments much appreciated especially about "inflating egos'
David