The History of the Word Chauffeur

You might have heard the word chauffeur a lot of time till now, but have you ever wondered about the origin of this word. The job of a chauffeur is an appreciable one; they are the man behind the luxury of the posh cars. They will turn your day into a pleasant memory and for this; they are always ready to act forward. The peaked hat, dark suits, and the white pair of gloves make them turn into your savior on a busy day. Even if they are not ready in this attire, the companies providing the chauffeur services in London make sure that the chauffeurs stay groomed. 

So, in this article, we will see where this well-versed term came from. 

The word chauffeur was first seen around 1896 and it is assumed that it came from the French word “Stroker”. Stroker was the term used for drivers who helped in stroking the engine sat that time. The sea vessels and railroad were steam powered at that time the drivers were needed to stroke the engine for movement. Till 1902 the automobiles relied on steams only and it was the time when the professional team for drivers came into existence.

 
If we take a glimpse into the past, then it was more of the petrol and gasoline-powered motor cars that were ignited using the hot-tubes. This tube of pre-heated to make the engine work and at that time the chauffeur didn't depict anything other than “heater upper”. At that period, it was the job of the chauffeurs to ignite the engine. The chauffeurs would activate the hot tubes before starting the journey. Once the hot tube got ignited, the temperature was maintained by the natural compression cycle. 

Further, the chauffeur was also responsible for the daily maintenance of the vehicle, including the daily routine of cleaning and maintenance. Adding to this, they also needed to be skilled technician who could control the emergency situation. Possessing these skills, the chauffeurs were able to handle the breakdowns and en-route tyre punctures. As these issues were very common in the early age of automobiles, it affected the travelers more and hence the chauffeurs needed to stay prepared for every situation. 

Earlier, only the wealthiest of the person could afford the chauffeurs. In the year 1902, the word “chauffeur” was awarded to all those drivers who were punctual, courteous, and well trained. It was a better term in comparison to anything like “stroker” or “motorman”. For living up to the chauffeur service, the drivers were asked to focus on their driving skills. 

With time the demand for chauffeur kept rising and they were freed from the task of maintenance. Within a few years, it became a respected and high earning profession. But, not to forget, it did give raise to a lot more well-trained drivers.

Today, it is not a part of luxury and chauffeurs can be availed for any journey. Whether you are looking for a Heathrow to or from Gatwick transfers or a night tour of London the chauffeurs will take care of all your travelling hassles.