From a French /English dictionary, the definition of ecuyer: 1 écuyer Noun, masculine (a) rider, horseman; riding master. Certainly the noblemen and military officers generally rode on horse-back, as opposed to the enlisted soldiers who mostly travelled on foot. Celine ----- Original Message ----- From: <WmFMcFarland@aol.com> To: <DEGRUY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 1:41 PM Subject: The term or title "Ecuyer" > I have been looking for information on the meaning of title "ecuyer" which > was used in the name/title of Antoine Valentin Verloin DeGruy. > > Apparently, this term is somewhat similar to the English term Squire ---- but > one must be careful in trying to find strict equivalents from country to > country. > > For anyone wanting to find out more about French nobility and the term > "Ecuyer" two sites I've found that are interesting. The first is pretty long and the > discussion of "ecuyer" is almost half way down. > > www.heraldica.org/topics/france/noblesse.htm > > There is some discussion of "Ecuyer" including the statement "Any nobleman, > no matter how recent, was an ecuyer, and only noblemen could be styled as > such." > There also is some discussion of the term "Lord" as used in France. > > www.heraldica.org/topics/france/frhercha.htm > > This seems to indicate that "Ecuyer" might be an untitled nobleman, perhaps > below the rank of Baron. > > ************************** > > The term "Ecuyer" from the French apparently is similar to squire or > castillan/chatelain in English. Indeed, the term Squire comes from the French > "escuier." > > A castillan (chatelain/chatelaine?) was the commander in charge of a castle. > > A squire was a person with pre-eminent position in the community, usually > living in the village manor house and owning an estate in or around the village. > > ************************ > > This information, together with the earlier posting that someone made > identifying some of the areas/towns mentione in Verloin DeGruy's name and titles, > seems to indicate that the Verloin DeGruy family were minor nobility, and perhaps > the pre-eminent family, in these areas/villages. > > Minor sons of the nobility often became officers in the French military, and > this seems to fit Antoine Verloin DeGruy. > > Of course, that leaves the possibility that some members of the family may > have had titles above that of "Escuyer." (I'm "in over my head" here! --- so > .......) > > Frank McFarland > > P.S. It is my understanding that the title "Sieur" was awarded in Canada to > persons who made a contribution to the community/government in some way, and > the title often (always?) came with the person being awarded title to some > significant land/estate. > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >