Maid (Maiden)

By Crusader1307

While the Title of ''Maid'' by today's standards, is one of ''domestic'' employment – or rather, a person (female), responsible for the cleaning and maintaining of a public facility such as a Hotel or related structure, the term is also applied to privately hired persons who maintain a home. This Title can also be applied to various Manors owned by Nobility. In these cases, whole Staffs of such are employed to perform a variety of domestic duties, not to dissimilar to their private counterparts. However, the Title once had a slightly more ''loftier'' meaning in the 14th Century AD. A Maid was seen as a ''pure'' (virginal) Lady, often unmarried. The term ''Maiden'' derived from this. A Maid was seen as the prime motivator for a Knight Errant and figured prominently into a Knight's Creed of Honor (Code of Chivalry).

Later, Maids were often recruited as ''Ladies in Waiting'' for Royalty (Queens, Princesses, etc). These were women who saw to the daily needs of a Noble Born woman (especially when a Man Servant of various Titles was not allowed). Often daughters of Noblemen vied for such positions, as they could often be used to ''advance'' the ''standing'' of a Family by such ''patronage''. With the separation of The Classes by the 18th Century, Maidens did not necessarily need to originate from Noble Families. Often women (Matrons), were chosen to serve Titled Women. As such and often, the position of now ''Maid'' was a family one, with a Maid's daughter being trained at an early age to eventually ''replace'' her Mother (when the time came, due to age or related infirmity). These younger women would often be used in a Manor Home kitchen or laundry – at first.

Still later, Agencies began to provide ''trained and vetted'' women to Manor Homes and the like (19th Century forward). As is still the practice in those European Countries, Maids can be hired to perform functions somewhat similar to their more ''ancient'' linage.