mercers

Mercers are merchants who historically specialized in textiles, especially cloth and related fabrics such as silk, dyeing, and fine cloths. The term derives from the Old French mercier, from Latin mercarius, meaning trader or merchant. In medieval and early modern Europe, mercers operated as wholesale and retail dealers, often dealing with international imports and supplying wealthy clients, courts, and religious institutions.

In England, the mercers formed the Worshipful Company of Mercers, one of the City of London’s historic livery companies. As a governing and charitable body, the company played a central role in regulating textile trade, setting standards, and supporting education and public works. The Mercers’ Company has long held property and philanthropic interests in London and beyond, and its activities reflect the prestige once accorded to textile merchants.

Historically, mercers helped connect European producers with continental and Asian fabrics, contributing to the growth of urban commerce. They often operated at the top end of the market, supplying luxury fabrics such as silks and velvets to nobility and institutions, while the broader cloth trade encompassed other specialists like drapers and haberdashers. Over time, the specific occupational label of mercer became less common in everyday usage as trade categories evolved.

Today, the term mercer is mainly encountered in historical contexts, in reference to the medieval and early modern textile trade, or in the name of the Mercers’ Company. It can also appear as a surname.