Good thinking here resulted in many solutions. Well done George at Rosebank Primary School, Leeds; Natasha from an Indian school in Lagos, Nigeria; Kevin, Paul, Christopher, Gerard, Gerard, Michael, Mathew, Gerard C and Gavin, members of the St Patrick's College (Belfast) Maths Club; Chong Ching, Chan Hei, Chen Wei, Ng Yan, Chua Zhi, Lim Zi and Lim Qing, from River Valley High School, Singapore; Cleo of Forres Academy, Scotland; Michael, home-educated; Liz, Briony, Laura and Freya from The Mount School, York and Katie, Louise and Rebecca, Bourne Grammar School.

This solution came from Wan Ming, River Valley High School, Singapore.

Conditions:

• ¹ No man held the job corresponding to his surname.
• ² No man married a girl of the same name as his occupation.
• ³ Writer was talking to baker's wife, and she mentioned that Mrs. Brewer talked to her before; therefore Mrs. Brewer can't be the baker's wife.
• ⁴ Since Mr. Brewer can't be a brewer or a baker, so he is the butcher.
• ⁵ Since Mr. Brewer is a butcher, his wife's maiden name can't be Butcher; therefore Mrs. Brewer's maiden name is Baker.

Conclusion:

Mr. Brewer is a butcher and his wife's maiden name was Miss Baker.