Pretty sure it was just a courtesy title by this time, much the same as Mr. which is an abbreviation of Master. Master was formerly minor gentry. Nowadays everyone is a Mr. and Esquire can be used on the end of a name instead and was slightly more formal. It was this way into the 20th century. Joseph Bloggs, Esquire Mr. Joseph Bloggs or J. Bloggs, Esquire Mr. J. Bloggs It's a very long time since esquire meant the assistant to a knight - a few hundred years. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laurie Kender" <lkender@yahoo.com> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 10:10 PM Subject: [OEL] Re: OLD-ENGLISH-D Digest V04 #58 > I apologize in advance if this isn't the correct forum > for this question, but I thought I'd give it a try. > I'm trying to understand why my great-grandfather > (1839-1898) used 'esquire' after his name. I > understand the medieval sense of the word, but not > quite sure how it was used in the 19th century. > > Would this have been some type of hereditary 'title', > implying some level of gentry, or some profession of a > higher order? Or is it likely he started using it > after he came to the US, thinking it would impress the > ignorant yanks<grin>? I don't believe he ever had > land, or came from 'money'; in fact, family stories > claim he was adopted by a minister when his parents > died... > > Any thoughts or insights would be much appreciated... > > Thanks in advance - > > Laurie Kender > in blustery-sunny-but-not-too-cold Indiana > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ > http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > >